Landscape dynamitic change in Mu Us Desert derived from Landsat TM data.

Landscape ecology emphasizes large areas and ecological effects of the spatial patterning of ecosystem. Recent developments in landscape ecology have emphasized the important relationship between spatial patterns and many ecological processes. Quantitative methods in landscape ecology link spatial patterns and ecological processes at broad spatial and temporal scales. In turn the increased attention on temporal change of ecosystem has highlighted the need for quantitative methods that can analyze patterns. This research applies quantitative methods--change detection to assess the ecosystem temporal change in the arid and semiarid area. Remote sensing offers the temporal change of ecosystem on landscape characteristics.