Contemporary landscape changes in Syrdarya region: a remote sensing and gis analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20671725Keywords:
landscape change, land cover, secondary salinization, land degradation, remote sensing, climate change, Syrdarya region.Abstract
This article analyzes the landscape transformation processes of Syrdarya region over the past three decades (1990–2024) using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). The study draws on Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, ERA5 reanalysis and meteorological station records, and soil monitoring data. The results show that, alongside the steady expansion of irrigated cropland, secondary salinization and land degradation have intensified: the share of strongly salinized land increased from 8% to 16%, while natural pasture and desert landscapes shrank by almost a half. Mean annual temperature rose by approximately 1.8 °C between 1980 and 2024, and a declining tendency was detected in atmospheric precipitation. The combined effect of anthropogenic factors and climate change is expressed through disturbance of the groundwater regime and the progressive desertification of steppe landscapes. The findings can support more sustainable use of land and water resources and the improvement of landscape monitoring systems in the region.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yunus Karimov
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right to first publication. The license permits others to share, adapt, and build upon the work as long as appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source.