Qualitative Analysis of Extent and Severity of Desertification for Semi-Arid Regions Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Abstract

 Abstract—International Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) defines desertification as land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climate variations and human activities. Desertification is a self-accelerating process, with exponentially rising rehabilitation costs. Biophysical, climatological and socio-economical parameters need to be integrated for analysis. Remote sensing is an effective monitoring technique due to temporal and synoptic data. Current work aims at integrating various parameters influencing desertification process for estimation of qualitative desertification severity using GIS. Proposed method uses satellite data as basic input along with climatic, terrain and demographic data. Weightage-driven approach is used for evaluating desertification severity map using regression analysis using field data. Remote sensing based indicators have high weightages as compared to ancillary data. The areas under medium to high severity classes are stressing the need of continuous monitoring and mitigation measures.