ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF LAND COVER CHANGES AND LANDSCAPE STABILITY IN THE NITRA RIVER BASIN (SLOVAKIA)
ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF LAND COVER CHANGES AND LANDSCAPE STABILITY IN THE NITRA RIVER BASIN (SLOVAKIA)

Author(s): Matej Vojtek
Subject(s): Physical Geopgraphy, Environmental Geography
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: landscape; land cover; stability; GIS; Nitra River Basin;
Summary/Abstract: The impact of human society on landscape is also documented by changes in land cover. Land cover/use changes in a basin frequently result in increased surface runoff, reduced groundwater recharge or transfer of pollutants. On the other hand, landscape stability refers to the share of (stable) areas that are identically used during the whole studied period. The aim of the paper is to analyze and assess land cover changes and landscape stability in the Nitra River Basin (Slovakia) in the years 1990 and 2012 based on CORINE Land Cover data. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used to compare and quantify the size of land cover classes (LCC). The landscape stability was determined by the overlay method using GIS. The LCC 211 recorded the most significant decrease by 1.97% (8826.64 ha). On the other hand, the share of LCC 313 increased the most by 1.22% (5469.72 ha). The total stable area represents 88.48% out of the total basin area. The largest share out of the total stable area was recorded in LCC 211 (50.85%) and 311 (27.11%). Economic development, accession to the EU and processes of (sub)urbanization were dominant driving forces behind the land cover change in the Nitra River Basin.

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