Assessment of Variation of Salty and Swamp Land Area Using Statistical and RS Data

The decision to avoid a gradual salinization and swamping requires understanding the origin and the extent of salinity as well as quantity and up-to-date information of the area. Processing and interpretation of imagery satellite and regional analysis of statistical data such as electrical conductivity and groundwater table level variation can be used in recognition the salinity and swamp lands. In this study, with generating the historic and existing land use map and quantitative analysis of salinity index parameters, the effectiveness of the remote sensing using satellite landsat TM and ETM+ sensors from the summer of 1992 and 2002 was illustrated. This research also showed the quantitative variation in salinity and swamp land surface of BEHSHAHR plain in the period of 1986-2002. The result showed an increase in the saline land area and lands with drawdown in the groundwater table level for the expressed period. The results were consistent with the analysis based on the results of the interpretation of satellite images such as increase in classes of salty land use, rainfed–salty land use, decrease in irrigated agricultural and orchards, and increase in the rainfed farming lands.