Abstract: Urban lake is an important ecological and tourism resource. Its variation has profound impact on the city’s development. The variations of lake surface and lake boundary in Wuhan are researched in detail by using NDWI and TM2+TM3> TM4+TM5 method in association with visual interpretation to extract the spatio-temporal information of 68 lakes. The research is based on Landsat 8 satellite data obtained in June 2013 and remote sensing images from 1975 to 2013 in the urban development area in Wuhan. Furthermore, thematic map of lake changes is given by using GIS spatial analysis technology and RS change detection method. The causes of lake changes are analysed through landscape indices. The research result is consistent with the government statistics of water resources in Wuhan city. It is also an instant basis for the protection and sustainable development of lake resources in Wuhan city.

Key words: Wuhan, lake change, Landsat 8, GIS, thematic map