Authors:
Atef Faleh Othman Al-Mashagbah; Rida Ali Nejem Al-Ada;
Abstract:
Landsat TM data in combination with the appropriate multispectral bands were used to investigate land cover
changes for the periods of 1990–2000 and 2000–2005 in Amman -Zarqa Basin, North East of Jordan. The
results indicate that urban areas increased from 21.2 km2 in 1990 to 37.1 km2 in 2005 and that the agricultural
areas expanded from 40.2 km2 in 1990 to 57.4 km2 in 2005. Also, the surface water bodies' areas increased
from 1.7 km2 to 1.9 km2 over the same period. In contrast, the bare soil and basalt rock outcrops decreased
from 761.2 km2 to 727.9 km2 in the same time. The rate of urban changes between 1990 and 2005 was
calculated. It is indicated in this research that the rate of urban growth was 0.96 km2 / year from 1990 to 2000
and 1.26 km2 / year from 2000 to 2005. Despite the fact that the cultivation and urbanization caused
significant changes in the study area, there are other factors controlling land cover changes including
industrial and agricultural development, livestock and cattle farms.
Keywords:
Remote sensing, GIS, Land cover, Land use, Amman-Zarqa basin, Basalt aquifer,