Assessment of Spatial Expansion of Rift Valley Lakes Using Satellite Data

Lake Nakuru, a key component of Kenya's UNESCO World Heritage Site, has shown significant spatial expansion and fluctuation over nearly five decades. Using satellite data from 1972 to 2019, researchers analyzed the lake's surface area with high precision, achieving an R² value of 0.8627 when employing Maximum Likelihood classification methods. This approach, validated against unclassified shapefile data, demonstrated strong correlation (R = 0.9312), underscoring its reliability for monitoring water body dynamics in the Great Rift Valley. The study highlights the potential of remote sensing techniques to provide accurate, long-term insights into lake behavior, crucial for conservation and environmental management.

Mulama, R. Y., & Ondieki, J. O. (2023). Assessment of Spatial Expansion of Rift Valley Lakes Using Satellite Data. Advances in Remote Sensing, 12(03), 88–98. https://doi.org/10.4236/ars.2023.123005