AN EXAMINATION OF TEMPORAL CHANGES IN GÖKSU DELTA (TURKEY) USING PRINCIPLE COMPONENT ANALYSIS

Coastal areas are natural systems with high ecological and economic value. Among other natural systems, deltas are the ecosystems with the most dynamic and complex relations. This study comprises of Göksu Delta which is located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Göksu Delta have one of the most important international wetlands that provide reproduction, nutrition and accommodation facilities for delicate, rare and in danger of extinction of many species. As a result of the hydrologic interventions and several human activities in Göksu Delta, coastal systems of Göksu Delta have been changed drastically. Remotely sensed data, which have obtained from several satellite systems, have proven to be an effective tool for monitoring coastal changes using digital or analog techniques. Thus, in recent years, most mapping and monitoring of coastal areas has been dependent on the use of remotely sensed data, because of the spatially comprehensive view provided by such data. The aim of this is to examine coastal changes in Göksu Delta using principle component analysis. The study demonstrates that this method can reduce errors in change detection using multitemporal images and provide a very useful way in monitoring rapid coastal changes. Coastal progression was detected in the west and southeast. On the other hand, there is a severe regression in the coastal line at the eastern side of the delta