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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Examining impacts of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam construction on land-cover changes using multitemporal Landsat imagery

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Author(s):
Jiang, Xiandie [1] ; Lu, Dengsheng [1, 2, 3, 4] ; Moran, Emilio [4] ; Calvi, Miqueias Freitas [5] ; Dutra, Luciano Vieira [6] ; Li, Guiying [2, 3]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Zhejiang Agr & Forestry Univ, Sch Environm & Resource Sci, State Key Lab Subtrop Silviculture, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang - Peoples R China
[2] Fujian Normal Univ, Fujian Prov Key Lab Subtrop Resources & Environ, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian - Peoples R China
[3] Fujian Normal Univ, Sch Geog Sci, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian - Peoples R China
[4] Michigan State Univ, Ctr Global Change & Earth Observat, E Lansing, MI 48823 - USA
[5] Fed Univ Para, Fac Forestry, BR-68372040 Altarnira, PA - Brazil
[6] Natl Inst Space Res, Av Astronautas 1758, BR-12245010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: APPLIED GEOGRAPHY; v. 97, p. 35-47, AUG 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 7
Abstract

Many hydroelectric dams in the Brazilian Amazon have been constructed, but how dam construction influences land-cover change has not been fully examined. For our research, we selected Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, the third-largest dam in the world, to explore its impacts on major land-cover change. Multitemporal Landsat images between 2006 and 2017 were used. The maximum likelihood classifier was used to classify these Landsat images into primary forest, secondary forest, agropasture, man-made bare land, natural bare land, and water. The land-cover change was examined using the post-classification comparison approach based on different stages of dam construction, and was further examined along the upstream and downstream river buffer. The results indicate that overall classification accuracies of 89.7% and 92.3% were obtained for the 2011 and 2015 land-cover classification results, respectively. Primary forest decreased continuously from 47.8% in 2006 to 35.3% in 2017. Different stages of dam construction had various impacts, that is, before dam construction, deforestation and agropasture expansion were the major land-cover change categories; during dam construction, the increased area of man-made bare lands, the canal construction zone, and the increased area of natural bare lands downstream were obvious, in addition to deforestation and agropasture dynamics; when dam construction was complete, water bodies increased considerably upstream and decreased downstream. These big changes in water bodies may have long-term impacts on ecosystem functions and environments. This research provides new insights on the impacts of dam construction on land-cover changes, which is valuable for making better decisions about water and land resources. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/51465-0 - Social and environmental processes that accompany the construction of Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, Altamira, PA
Grantee:Emilio Federico Moran
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - SPEC Program