Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of LUCC and Driving Factor Analysis for the Wei River Basin from 1980 to 2000

Variations of water and sediment usually have a close causality relationship with the Land use and Land cover Change（LUCC）.On the basis of land use and land cover dataset for three periods including the 1980s,1990s and 2000s,several indices and models such as transformation matrix,integrated change rate,integrated degree of land use,and change rate of special land use are developed to analyze the spatial-temporal characteristics and distribution patterns of LUCC with the help of GIS software.The results showed that land use and land cover in the Wei River basin has changed greatly between 1980 and 2000.The area of grass land has increased 2.09×104 km2.But,1.35×104 km2 and 1.11×104 km2 decrease for farm land and woodland.For building area,it has the rapidest increase in this period.The spatial-temporal characteristics of LUCC showed a noticeable regional distribution pattern.Comparing with changes between 1990 and 2000,the change rates for all kinds of land use and land cover during 1980-1990 are much higher.However,the changes in spatial distribution showed a good pattern.Considering on the socioeconomic influence factors,national land use policies,soil and water conservation,economic development,and population growth are identified as the main driving factors for LUCC in the Wei River basin during the past two decades.