Monitoring the Impacts of Climate Change on the Structural Dynamics of Aquatic Ecosystems: A Remote Sensing-Based Assessment

Wetlands are critical ecosystems delivering essential services, including carbon sequestration, flood regulation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity conservation. However, the escalating frequency and severity of climate change-induced droughts pose a profound threat to their ecological integrity and functionality. This study evaluates long-term changes in water extent and vegetation cover of the Choghakhor wetland in southwestern Iran, analyzing their correlation with drought severity over a ۲۵-year period (۱۹۹۵-۲۰۱۹) using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) methodologies. Findings reveal a significant decline in annual precipitation post-۲۰۰۷, coupled with heightened drought severity and frequency, particularly after ۲۰۰۸. Concurrently, a marked reduction in the wetland's water extent was observed, accompanied by pronounced fluctuations in vegetation cover. Vegetation dynamics exhibited a strong correlation with surface water extent, highlighting their interdependence. These results establish a clear linkage between climate variability and wetland degradation, identifying prolonged droughts as a primary driver of structural ecosystem changes. This study underscores the urgent need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts and safeguard wetland integrity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hydro-ecological response ، Land cover transformation ، Change detection ، Adaptive wetland management