DURANKULAK LAKE ACTUAL STATE AND MONITORING USING SENTINEL 2 SATELLITE DATA

Durankulak Lake is one of the most important wetlands in Bulgaria and Europe. It is included in the Ramsar Convention and is recognized as an important bird area of world importance. The subject of protection within the protected zone is the condition of the natural habitats and the habitats of the species, including the natural species composition, the typical species and the conditions of the environment. Remote sensing methods provide opportunities for characterization and monitoring of the wetland on various scales that have not been done so far. In the present study satellite multispectral images from the European Union Copernicus Satellite Program, Sentinel 2 are used for assessment and monitoring of the actual state of the lake. Based on these satellite images, the boundaries of the protected wetland are derived. An index classification of the wetland was made. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is used to classify sites within the protected area. Sentinel-2 satellite data to implement the orthogonal transformation model called Tasseled Cap Transformation (TCT) has also been used. The model is an effective method for classifying and analyzing of the processes related to the dynamics of changes, affecting the main components of the earth's surface: soil, water and vegetation. The spring survey of 2019 was selected for the present study. The results will show successful mapping and monitoring of the wetland, which will give a real idea of the state of the Durankulak Lake and the need to take conservation measures to protect it.Key words: monitoring, satellite data, wetlands, habitats