Changes in Benthic Habitat Under Climate Pressure in Western Papua, Indonesia: Remote Sensing-Based Approach

This study looks at how the benthic habitat on Ayau Island; one of Indonesia's most significant coral reef habitats has changed from 2015 to 2019 and the linkage with local sea temperature trends. This study used Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite remote sensing data and field data. The Landsat 8 satellite image processing includes atmospheric correction, sunglint correction, water column correction, image classification, and accuracy assessment. These steps were employed to understand change detection. The result revealed that the coral reef and seagrass decreased by 9.9 and 74.9% during the study period. However, the transition change was dynamic, with an annual rate of - 82.5 ha/year for coral reefs and - 108.95 ha/year for seagrass. The highest decrease in both benthic habitats occurred during the El-Nino Event, where the Sea Surface Temperature anomaly reached 1.5 degrees C. The massive habitat loss is alarming; thus, climate change mitigation and adaptation in the local context must be addressed.