Change Detection of Tidal Flats and Tidal Creeks in the Yellow River Delta Using Landsat TM/ETM+ Images
黄河三角洲潮滩潮沟近期变化遥感监测

We have interpreted tidal flats and tidal creeks in 5 typical tidal basins around the Yellow River Delta using Landsat TM/ETM images acquired in June 1986 and August 2001. The drainage density and fractal dimension of tidal creeks of each tidal basin were calculated. The results show that a lot of changes have taken place during the past 15 years in tidal zones of the Yellow River Delta. The average change rate of tidal creeks' length in 5 typical tidal basins is -14.9 km/yr, -8.4 km/yr, 2.5 km/yr, 4.7 km/yr and -4.9 km/yr respectively (1986-2001). In the Taoer River Estuary, artificial coastline has advanced rapidly towards the sea (0.8 km/yr) due to the development of oil fields, fishponds and salt ponds. Box-counting dimensions of tidal creeks and coastlines have decreased, which showed that the tidal flats and tidal creeks systems in the study areas are retrogressive except the tidal basins from south of the Yellow River mouth to the Tianshuigou River Estuary and from Tiaohe River Estuary to 106 Station.