7-29 Land Use Change and Climate Variability as Drivers of Flooding and Hydrologic Change in Kentucky

Session: Undergraduate Research, Part I (Posters)

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This study examines how land use, vegetation cover, and human activities influence climate and water conditions across Kentucky. It integrates historic precipitation and temperature records with remote sensing datasets to assess environmental change over more than a century. The goal is to describe long-term patterns in climate and land cover and to explain how these patterns relate to flooding and other hydrologic processes. Historic climate data from weather stations show that precipitation and temperature have changed over time. Records spanning more than 150 years indicate an increase in heavy rainfall events after the 1980s and greater seasonal variability in several regions. These observations indicate that climate conditions are shifting and may influence local hydrology. Historical greenhouse gas emissions and population growth provide additional context for understanding human influences on the regional climate system. Remote sensing products, including the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and MODIS evapotranspiration datasets, are used to map land use, vegetation cover, and surface water conditions. These datasets document how forests, agricultural land, and urban areas have changed during the satellite era. Urban expansion around cities such as Louisville increases impervious surfaces, reduces infiltration, and alters runoff patterns. Agricultural land and forested regions exhibit distinct evapotranspiration rates and vegetation dynamics that influence surface temperature and soil moisture. Land use maps also reveal changes in vegetation cover that affect evapotranspiration trends and local water availability. Climate model outputs and GIS tools help characterize spatial patterns in precipitation, vegetation health, and surface conditions. Streamflow records and groundwater data provide additional hydrologic context. Results indicate that land use changes, vegetation loss, and human development interact with climate variability to influence flooding, drought risk, and groundwater recharge. Temporal coverage varies across each dataset, reflecting differences in data availability and measurement techniques over time.

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