Estimation of late twentieth century land-cover change in California

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 173; no. 1-4; pp. 251 - 266
• Main Authors: Sleeter, Benjamin M, Wilson, Tamara S, Soulard, Christopher E, Liu, Jinxun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.02.2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 20th century; Agricultural land; Agriculture; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Anthropogenic factors; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biological and medical sciences; California; Change; Classification schemes; Climate change; Conservation of Natural Resources; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental testing; Exact sciences and technology; Fires; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geology; Grasslands; land cover; Land use; Landsat; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Pollution; Rangelands; Regions; Remote sensing; Sensors; Studies; Trees; Trends; California; United States; North America; America; United States > US; USA, California; California; Change; Trends; Land cover; Land use; Trend analysis; Environmental factor; Plant cover; Environmental monitoring
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-010-1385-8

We present the first comprehensive multi-temporal analysis of land-cover change for California across its major ecological regions and primary land-cover types. Recently completed satellite-based estimates of land-cover and land-use change information for large portions of the United States allow for consistent measurement and comparison across heterogeneous landscapes. Landsat data were employed within a pure-panel stratified one-stage cluster sample to estimate and characterize land-cover change for 1973-2000. Results indicate anthropogenic and natural disturbances, such as forest cutting and fire, were the dominant changes, followed by large fluctuations between agriculture and rangelands. Contrary to common perception, agriculture remained relatively stable over the 27-year period with an estimated loss of 1.0% of agricultural land. The largest net declines occurred in the grasslands/shrubs class at 5,131 km² and forest class at 4,722 km². Developed lands increased by 37.6%, composing an estimated 4.2% of the state's land cover by 2000.