Delaware Bay Wetlands Change Detection and Spatiotemporal Analysis 1993-2021

Wetland is one of the most vulnerable and important ecosystems on Earth. Understanding and monitoring wetland change face lots of challenges as remote sensing is the most efficient way. This thesis used Google Earth Engine, a cloud-based platform to analyze big geodata, to conduct wetland classification in Delaware Bay from 1993 to 2021 based on Landsat images. Additionally, the study conducted NDVI and NDWI time-series analyses which determine June to October is the most suitable time window for wetland classification in Delaware Bay. The result of image classification indicates an increase in the wetland area. In particular, the southwest band of the river gain marsh. Environmental and socioeconomic factors including climate change and wetland restoration programs play major roles in Delaware Bay wetland change.No embargoAcademic Major: Geographic Information Scienc