Correlation Analysis of Landscape Pattern and Water Quality in Baiyangdian Watershed

Abstract

AbstractWater quality is sensitive to changes in landscape patterns in a watershed, particularly during urbanization. Using GIS tools, the landscape pattern index method was proposed to compare the landscape patterns of Baiyangdian Watershed in 2002 and 2007, determine the transformation rules of landscape essential factors, and analyze the correlation between the changes of landscape patterns and water quality in Baiyangdian Watershed. The study shows that 1) the degree of fragmentation of man-made landscape is decreasing and that of the natural landscape is increasing in the watershed during its urbanization; 2) Construction land and farmland are the dominant factors leading to river pollution in most cases, while a higher percentage of forest cover contributes to improved water quality. Furthermore, other physical and social factors were analyzed that may influence the relationship between water quality patterns of land use in the study area