Evaluating Shoreline Changes at Ayvacık Reservoir (Çanakkale, Türkiye) Through Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Techniques: A Twelve-Year Assessment

This study aims to determine the spatial and temporal changes occurring along the shoreline of the Ayvacık Reservoir in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS and Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite images were analyzed using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. The dataset used in the study covers the period between the completion of the dam construction in 2008 and 2019. Preprocessing of the remote sensing satellite images and digital image processing analyses were carried out using ENVI and ArcGIS software. The shoreline was determined through manual digitization. Consequently, it was found that the shoreline length was 14.994 km in 2008 and increased to 22.293 km in 2019. These values represent the observed minimum and maximum shoreline lengths, respectively. The study period revealed an increase in shoreline length. Given that this study is the first to elucidate shoreline changes occurring at the Ayvacık Reservoir, it is anticipated to provide essential insights for water resource managers by contributing significantly to the literature.