Google Earth Engine Approach in Monitoring of Mangrove Forest in Govatr Bay, on Oman Sea

Sabrieh Shahbazi, Mansooreh Majidi

This study investigates geomorphological changes influencing mangrove habitats along Iran's coastline using satellite photos to identify crucial sites for coastal management. Biogeomorphol-ogy helps to solve real-world problems, such as mangrove restoration and coastal management. This study explored the relationship between coastal mangrove habitats and local geomorpholo-gy in Govatr Bay by integrating field data with remote sensing. Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to map periodic changes in geomorphology, land use, and mangrove boundaries, providing insights into their interactions. GEE's cloud-based platform enabled efficient analysis of large satellite datasets for monitoring mangrove dynamics. Mangrove area and density changes were monitored using aerial photographs (1957, 1966) and satellite imagery from Landsat (1998, 2001) and IRS-Liss III (2006). From 1957 to 2006, mangrove forests expanded from 24,601 to 53,671 hectares, despite fluctuations due to natural and human influences. Most growth occurred between 1966 and 1998, with the Bahu estuary showing higher expansion and dynamic changes compared to the Goiter. Overall, the study observed significant mangrove area changes, with a positive trend over the 20-year period.