Monitoring desertification in the Euphrates region south Iraq using Remote Sensing Techniques

Abstract

Although Euphrates regions are very important agricultural areas, the land fertility declined due to drought episodes of desertification. Sand dunes developed into Euphrates areas and salinity increased, Landsat satellite images for years 1972 , 1984, 1990 , 2002 , 2016 where used to study such changes and match for all records to identify negative phenomena . Separated layers and its spatial area for each year showed expansion of desertification (29%) during the period 1972 – 2002 as a result of wind come from two major sand resources areas on the other hand, period 2002 – 2016 witnessed a low of rate about 7% desertification due to the invasion of the Ahwar ( swamps ) by water that partly cover sand areas, salinity increased up to 21% on river banks and places of shallow groundwater with high evaporation , Gravel covering is a highly recommended to prevent soil erosion and dune development, about salinity must establish an active drainage channels for all area