Characterization of land cover types in Xilin River Basin using multi-temporal Landsat images

Abstract

This study conducted computer-aided image analysis of land use and land cover in Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, using 4 sets of Landsat TM/ETM+ images acquired on July 31, 1987, August 11, 1991, September 27, 1997 and May 23, 2000, respectively. Primarily, 17 sub-class land cover types were recognized, including nine grassland types at community level:F. sibiricum steppe,S. baicalensis steppe,A. chinensis + forbs steppe,A. chinensis + bunchgrass steppe,A. chinensis + Ar. frigida steppe,S. grandis + A. chinensis steppe,S. grandis + bunchgrass steppe,S. krylavii steppe,Ar. frigida steppe and eight non-grassland types: active cropland, harvested cropland, urban area, wetland, desertified la..