Abstract

MENDOZA, Manuel E.; BOCCO, Gerardo; LOPEZ GRANADOS, Erna  and  BRAVO, Miguel. Recent trends in the extension of Cuitzeo Lake: An approach based on Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems and Statistical Analysis. Invest. Geog [online]. 2007, n.64, pp.43-62. ISSN 2448-7279.

This research describes and analyzes the change in the surfaces occupied by Cuitzeo's lake during the period 1974-2001. This research is based on remote sensing and geographic information techniques, as well as statistical analysis. High resolution satellite image data were used to analyse the 1974-2000 period, and very low resolution satellite image data were used for the 1997-2001 period. The long term analysis (1974-2000) indicates that lake surfaces of Cuitzeo changes along the time and that these changes are associated to monthly mean precipitation and temperature data occurred in the previous year. Short term monitoring (1997-2001) indicates that Cuitzeo lake surfaces have a reduction trend in the water body. Field observations also pointed out that yearly desiccation are recurrent, particularly, in the west section of the lake. These results suggest that this behaviour is consequence of a drought period in the basin. This drought began in the middle of 1990's. The regression models constructed from long term series, suggest that the surfaces of the lake can be estimated by monthly mean precipitation and temperature data series of the year before.

Keywords : Lake water management; remote sensing; geographical information systems; Cuitzeo; Mexico.

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