Remote sensing investigation of inundation, elevation and land use assessment in Moscow state, Russia

Abstract

Land use/cover expansion is one of the major drivers of regional environmental change. With increasing scientific and political interest in regional aspects of global environmental changes, there is a strong stimulus to better understand the patterns causes and environmental consequences of LULC expansion in the elevation of Moscow state, one of the areas in the nation with fast economic growth and high population density. Satellite remote sensing images (Landsat TM, ETM and OLI) were employed to detect land cover changes. A 70 to 300 m inundation land loss scenarios for surface water and sea level rise (SLR) were developed using digital elevation models of study site topography through remote sensing and GIS techniques by ASTER GDEM and Landsat OLI data. The most severely impacted sectors are expected to be the vegetation, wetland and the natural ecosystem. Improved understanding of the extent and response of SLR will help in preparing for adaptation.