Journal of Applied Remote Sensing (19313195)(3)
Hoz-e-Sultan playa is one of the lowest points in the center of Iran, and its size and shape rely on the amount of inlet and outlet discharged water in different seasons of the year. The temperature fluctuations are the significant variations in the surface of the playa that increases the maximum salinity and saline layer level. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the spatial-temporal changes and salinity rate obtained from 11 sedimentary cores in the study area by principal component analysis, Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST) method. The results indicated that the level of playa decreased about 33.598 km2 during 26 years. The spatial changes occurred in the eastern margin in the south of playa. Finally, a significant relationship was observed between the SI and the real salinity, and the NDSI and LST also increase the salinity rate related to temperature decrease. © 2018 The Authors.
