Abstract

For lake ecosystems to be sustainable in terms of natural life and socio-economics, it is of great importance to monitor the lakes and their environment and to determine their changes. In this direction, satellite images and remote sensing techniques are frequently used today. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the changes in the surface area of Gala and Pamuklu lakes, which are located within the borders of Gala Lake National Park, between 1985 and 2022 and to determine the processes affecting this change. Landsat satellite images of Gala and Pamuklu lakes were selected for each decade between 1985 and 2022 by considering the months of July. Classifications were made using Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-8 OLI satellite images. Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), uncontrolled (IsoDATA) and controlled (Maximum Likelihood) classification methods, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used to determine the land use change around the lakes. In the results obtained, it was determined that the surface areas of the lakes expanded by 40-60%. Accuracy analyses were performed and compared for the classifications. According to the accuracy analysis using Overall Accuracy, Kappa, and F-1 Score statistical metrics, the highest value was reached as a result of controlled classification. Overall Accuracy values ranged between 0.95-0.96, Kappa statistical values ranged between 0.88-0.92, and F-1 Score values ranged between 0.93-0.94. It was determined that the methods used can be used to determine the water surface areas, and at the same time, the changes occurring in the lakes are mostly a result of water use preferences.