The status of artificial wetland areas in light of climate change using Geospatial systems: Case study Ain Zada Lake (Algeria)

Abstract

Climate patterns in North Africa, specifically the southern Mediterranean, have changed considerably due to global climate change. As a result, a major environmental problem has emerged: the deterioration of wetlands and associated ecosystems, which are protected under the Ramsar Convention. This study examines the state of an artificial wetland, notably the reservoir formed by the Ain Zada Dam in northeastern Algeria, from 2001 to 2021. RS, GIS, and GEE were used to analyse indices and satellite images. The study found that the reservoir’s water storage decreased significantly, from 10.5 million m3 in 2001 to 2.4 million m3 in 2021. This finding is entirely consistent with the NDWI index, which was generated from an analysis of 151 satellite images. The drop in water storage has had an extensive effect on the reservoir’s ecosystem. That decline is linked to changes in the region’s environment over the last 40 years, which has been characterized by lower water levels and higher temperatures, providing additional evidence of global warming.