Trend analysis of the decadal variations of water bodies and land use/land cover through MODIS imagery: an in-depth study from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Water is a primary element for human life on Earth. Fresh water, which includes rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds, contributes less than one thousandth of a percent of the total water on Earth, but it is critical for the environment and human life. Change in land use and land cover (LULC) is a foremost concern in global environment change. Rapid changes in LULC lead to the degradation of ecosystems and have adverse effects on the environment. There is an urgent need to monitor changes in LULC and evaluate the effects of these changes in order to inform decision makers on how to support sustainable development. This study used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometry images to detect and investigate changes in LULC patterns in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, between 2008 and 2017. Six types of LULC were used to explain the major changes of LULC in the study area. The results showed that there was a reduction of barren lands and an increase of urban areas. It also showed an inconsistent behavior of water bodies during the study. Snow area, which also increased, needs further investigation. HIGHLIGHTS Comprehensive overview of six different LULC (barren, snow, urban, forest, water bodies, and wetlands) in Gilgit Baltistan were studied.; Representation of the variation in spatial, temporal, compositional, and configurational patterns of different LULC were assessed using MODIS data.; Trend analysis of LULC changes over the last decade was measured using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen's Slope Estimator.