Reconstruction of paleoecogeomorphology in Lake Zarivar implied by diatoms distribution, and Satellite images

Lake Zariar sediments in Kurdistan province with covering the time period of 10،000 years were examined for type of grain size and the contents of diatoms. Reconstructions of the variations in lake water level، changes in grain size sediments and salinity from 688 cm core extracted from near west coast of lake suggest a sequence of climatic and environment changes. Two stages of low and varying lake-water level occurred in 6870–5500، and 3170-1300 cal yr BP with high content of sand decrease in content of silt، fresh-water and oligotraphentic forms with distinct increase peak of brackish-water forms، mesotraphentic forms and Cymbella ehrenbergii species. The more increase in brakish-water forms is associated with Anomoeoneis Sphaerophora forms in 6000 cal yr BP. Two stages of high lake-water level occurred in 6870–5500 and 3170-1300 cal yr BP with high content of silt decrease in content of sand increase in contents of fresh-water species and low percentages or near disappearance of brackishwater forms including A. sphaerophora increase in Cymbella leptoceros species with olligotraphentic and decrease in eutrophic forms. Other purpose of this study aimed to investigate coastline and water level changes of lake and identify the causes for the decline in lake level using four satellite imagery from 2003 to 2011 and GIS technique، preparing and processing، classifying the images and extract the land use map for these time periods. From 2003 to 2011، the water surface area of the Zeribar Lake decreased from 21. 71 to 13. 04 km2، a loss of 39. 95% over the only 8-years period.