Abstract
This study aimed to assess the vegetation cover degradation in the Sudanese Red Sea coast (from Suakin to Ashad) after the drought during the period from 2000 - 2011. Remote Sensing and GIS techniques were used beside field survey to conduct the study. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) terra 2000 -2001, 2005-2006 and 2010-2011 time-Series images mainly the 16 days Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) product and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) images dated 2005 and 2010 were used. Unsupervised classification methods were used to detect vegetation cover of the study area. Based on field survey investigations, beside the data collected on the study area and image interpretation, it was evident that season 2005-2006 and season 2006-2010 are good seasons in the vegetation cover compared to season 2000-2001. Five land cover classes were detected; wet land, bare land and three classes of vegetation cover (dense vegetation, moderately dense vegetation and sparse vegetation cover). Spectral signatures of the three dominant land cover vegetation species were detected. Areas of the three classes of vegetation cover area (dense vegetation, moderately dense vegetation and sparse vegetation cover) were calculated per km2. The study concluded that MODIS could be used as a cost effective tool in assessing land cover changes and monitoring vegetation cover degradation.As well, it could also be used to detect fairly the different vegetation species in arid and semiarid regions.
Highlights
Desertification is defined as “Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities” (UNCED, 1992; 1994)
Remote sensing data in form of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) images created from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS)-Terra sensor (250m spatial resolution) Images were obtained from (LAADS) and http://www.reverb.Echo.org
Land cover maps were produced based on MODIS time – series (2000- 2001, 2005-2006 and 2010-2011)
Summary
Desertification is defined as “Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities” (UNCED, 1992; 1994). The study was carried out in Red Sea State, Sudan which lies in a very harsh area suffering from scarce and variable rainfall which may further be subdivided into extreme arid, arid and semi-arid region. Ali and Mohammed (1991), reported that the Red Sea state over the last two decades has experienced high variability of rainfall and a decrease both in amount and frequency within this period resulted in a pronounced ecological degradation that is shown in relatively low specific diversity, poor species performance and minimal regenerative capacity of woody and herbaceous species. All data integrated in a GIS to assess the status of vegetation cover in the study area and to achieve the following objectives: www.ccsenet.org/jgg
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