Assessment and monitoring of desertification in North Jordan (original) (raw)

Proceedings of SPIE, 2003

Abstract

ABSTRACT Remote Sensing provides a diversity of data from the superficial environmental, which can be manipulated and analyzed by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to extract information relevant to the understanding of environmental hazards. This applies especially to the study of desert conditions, desertification monitoring, assessment and mapping. This contribution utilizes remote sensing data and techniques to evaluate the biological and physical parameters related to land degradation and desertification, such as water, vegetation, geomorphology, drainage system, soil moisture, etc. Multi-temporal analysis of Landsat TM images is used to monitor the effects on vegetation of the increase in areas of irrigation during the period of 1983-1997. The analysis clearly demonstrates a net decrease in vegetation cover. This situation exemplifies the deterioration of the natural vegetation cover. A Geographic Information System was used to combine and interpret a range of parameters (land use, soil type, topography, climate, etc.). A result of this GIS analysis is the provision of maps showing water erosion, wind erosion, vegetation degradation and salinization. A final stage of this research was the construction of a

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