Revealing the transversal continuum of natural landscapes in coastal zones - Case of the Turkish Mediterranean coast

Abstract

Abstract The study presents an analytical framework for examining the transversal structure, rather than the longitudinal pattern of the landscape in coastal zones. Our methodology introduces the concept of the ‘band’ as an alternative to the ‘buffer zone’. The Band is a dynamic notion which is rooted in the organic structure of landscape patterns and which relies on the order of adjacency/connectivity between land cover patches and the coastline. The study utilizes CORINE Land Cover data to produce 10 bands that stretch along the Turkish Mediterranean coast. By introducing two extra attributes: ‘band level’ and ‘transversal continuum depth’, this method is useful for the identification of; (i) transversally connected coastal natural landscape mosaics, (ii) endangered natural landscape patches to be conserved, and (iii) potential artificial surfaces to be restored. The workflow is formalized via Model Builder (ArcGIS), and is applicable to any coastal context in support of diverse decision making processes such as those of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).