Assessment of the environmental changes in Oro Lake (Mali) using MSS images

Environmental changes around the Oro Lake (Mali) which, with other lakes (Fati, Faguibine, Tele), represents an important hydrological resource of the Inland Delta of the Niger river, have been assessed by means of Landsat MSS imagery analysis. After data calibration and atmospheric correction, different color composites, band ratios and image differences were selected. Subsequently, the spectral features of the principal morphological units were analyzed using the satellite data, and were compared with the morphological characteristics detected and mapped in 1957 by Tricart from field work and aerial photographs. The morphological changes highlighted by satellite data therefore represent an interesting update of the old map in a region in which it is very difficult and expensive to perform ground surveys. ©2005 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.