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A Meta-Analysis Of Global Urban Land Expansion, Karen C. Seto, Michail Fragkias, Burak Güneralp, Michael K. Reilly
A Meta-Analysis Of Global Urban Land Expansion, Karen C. Seto, Michail Fragkias, Burak Güneralp, Michael K. Reilly
Michail Fragkias
The conversion of Earth's land surface to urban uses is one of the most irreversible human impacts on the global biosphere. It drives the loss of farmland, affects local climate, fragments habitats, and threatens biodiversity. Here we present a meta-analysis of 326 studies that have used remotely sensed images to map urban land conversion. We report a worldwide observed increase in urban land area of 58,000 km2 from 1970 to 2000. India, China, and Africa have experienced the highest rates of urban land expansion, and the largest change in total urban extent has occurred in North America. Across all regions …