An investigation of the Relationship Between Wetland Area and Catchment Runoff Changes

In general, analysis of the area changes of wetlands and its relationship with changes in surface runoff of catchments can play an important role in the efficiency and success of adaptation programs with climate change and conservation and development of wetlands. Therefore, in this study, changes in the areas of Kaftar wetland of Fars province and its relationship with the change of runoff in catchment were investigated. To this end, satellite images and rainfall data during a 30 year period (1986-2016) and were used and by providing time series of changes of the areas of wetland and runoff values of catchments, the relationship between these two variables were investigated by linear regression method. The results showed that with decreasing rainfall and increasing runoff coefficient and subsequently reducing the amount of runoff in the catchment, the area of wetland was decreased post-1998 relative to pre-1998 so that at the end of the 30-year period it has reached zero. Correspondence between reduction of wetland area and runoff of catchment caused correlation coefficient between these two variables was equal to 0.91. Finally, it can be said that the results of this research by providing accurate information about wetland responses to climate change and human activities play an important role in the efficiency and success of Climate change mitigation programs and the conservation planning of wetlands in Iran.