Long-term dynamic analysis based on Landsat imagery in the Gorgan Bay- Gomishan Wetland, Iran

Coastal ecosystems are very dynamic and their changes occur relatively quickly due to the collision of two dynamic environments of land and sea. Gorgan Bay and Gomishan Wetland are unique ecosystems in the south-eastern part of the Caspian Sea. In this study periodic changes in the ecosystems of Gomishan Wetland and Gorgan Bay were evaluated over a period of 40 years using Landsat satellite imagery from 1978-2018. MSS, TM and OLI imagery along with NDWI index were used. The results show that the fluctuations in both ecosystems were consistent and the coastline changes were greater in the near-land areas. Based on the results, the highest area of ​​water in both ecosystems was obtained in 1997 (210.43 and 528.97 km2 for Gomishan Wetland and Gorgan Bay, respectively). These ecosystems also exhibited the lowest water area in 1978. In general, it can be conclude that remote sensing was an efficient tool in monitoring and managing coastal ecosystems.