Coastline and landscape changes in bay areas caused by human activities: A comparative analysis of Xiangshan Bay, China and Tampa Bay, USA

Abstract

Using multitemporal Landsat TM/OLI images at a 10-year interval, in this study, we (1) extracted information of spatial location, length, and sinuosity of coastline and landscape configuration, diversity and fragmentation in the bay areas of Xiangshan Bay (XB), China and Tampa Bay (TB), USA from 1985 to 2015; (2) constructed indices of artificial coastlines and human disturbance on bay area landscapes; and (3) explored and discussed the impacts of human activities on changes of coastlines and landscape types in the two bay areas. Our analysis results demonstrate the following five points. (1) During the past 30 years, the lengths of natural coastline in XB and TB shrank, while the lengths of their artificial coastline increased first and then maintained stable. Since there were different influences of human activities on coastlines and landscape types between the two bay areas, XB experienced dramatic changes in parts of coastline geomorphologies and continuous decrease of coastline sinuosity, while, in TB, there was a little change in coastline geomorphologies and its coastline sinuosity was almost unchanged. (2) The intensity of human activities in XB was continuously enhanced from 1985 to 1995, and then the degree of enhancement had slowed down after 1995. However, in the time period, the impacted extent of human activities gradually increased and finally covered almost entire coastlines in XB. In TB area, although the intensity of human activities was enhanced, the degree of enhancement slowed down from 1985 to 2015 and the impacted areas of human activates were concentrated in several 1128 Journal of Geographical Sciences coastal city areas. (3) The average area of landscape patches strongly disturbed by human activities in both XB and TB generally showed a trend of decreasing from 1985 to 2005. However, during the period of 2005 to 2015, the average patch area of landscapes disturbed by different degrees of human activities in XB changed differently, while in TB it almost did not change. (4) From 1985 to 2005, the indices of landscape diversity in various areas of human disturbance in XB gradually increased, while in TB, changes in indices of the landscape diversity varied. From 2005 to 2015, the changes in the intensity of human disturbance in both bay areas were from weak to strong, whereas the indices of landscape diversity in XB and TB increased first and then decreased. (5) The landscape fragmentation index in different human disturbance areas in both XB and TB gradually increased from 1985 to 2005, while from 2005 to 2015, in both bay areas, the landscape fragmentation index presented a decreasing trend.

Variability in Regional Ecological Vulnerability: A Case Study of Sichuan Province, China

“…Although there was a catastrophic event,-the Wenchuan Earthquake-during the period 2005-2010, a more significant factor contributing to increased EVI value might be the rapid increase in human construction activities. The construction activities contributed to a decline in the area of ecological patches and to severe fragmentation (Li et al 2018), thereby increasing ecological vulnerability. During the period 2010-2015, construction activities were reduced, and the overall ecological vulnerability decreased.…”

Application of GIS Tools in the Measurement Analysis of Urban Spatial Layouts Using the Square Grid Method

“…The use of grids of excavation squares is among the basic research tools in archaeology [31]. Various types of square grids are also used in other analyses, such as studies of the spatial development of cities [72][73][74][75][76][77][78], cities' landscape change and land use [79][80][81]. They are also used in studies on urban climate, build-up areas [76,[82][83][84][85] and on issues related to the quality of life of inhabitants [86,87] or population density [88].…”

Mapping of Coastline Changes in Athens Riviera over the Past 76 Year’s Measurements

“…The increase in the length of the artificial coastline as well as the decrease in its growth trend has been observed and in other coastal urban areas. Li et al [40] compared the coastlines in Xiangshan Bay of China and Tampa Bay of USA from 1985 to 2015 and they resulted that the length of artificial coastline increased first and then maintained stable. Additionally, Faliro bay has undergone extensive coastline modifications and is probably a vulnerable area to a future sea level rise.…”