Mapping the Land Use / Land Cover Changes in the Basalt Area between 1990 and 2005 Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Landsat TM data in combination with the appropriate multispectral bands were used to investigate land cover changes for the periods of 1990–2000 and 2000–2005 in Amman -Zarqa Basin, North East of Jordan. The results indicate that urban areas increased from 21.2 km^2 in 1990 to 37.1 km^2 in 2005 and that the agricultural areas expanded from 40.2 km^2 in 1990 to 57.4 km^2 in 2005. Also, the surface water bodies areas increased from 1.7 km^2 to 1.9 km^2 over the same period. In contrast, the bare soil and basalt rock outcrops decreased from 761.2 km^2 to 727.9 km^2 in the same time. The rate of urban changes between 1990 and 2005 was calculated. It is indicated in this research that the rate of urban growth was 0.96 km^2 / year from 1990 to 2000 and 1.26 km^2 / year from 2000 to 2005. Despite the fact that the cultivation and urbanization caused significant changes in the study area, there are other factors controlling land cover changes including industrial and agricultural development, livestock and cattle farms.