Evaluating Environmental Sensitivity to Desertification in El-Fayoum Depression, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

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HIS STUDY aims to use spatial analyst tool in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess the environmental sensitivity for desertification in El- Fayum Depression, Egypt. The thematic layers of soils, vegetation and climate quality indices are the main required data for estimating the Environmental Sensitivity to desertification. These layers were established in geographic information system depend upon land surveying and laboratory analyses data, Landsat ETM image, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), geological map and climatic data. Spatial analyst tool in Arc-GIS 9.3 software is used for matching the thematic layers and assessing the desertification index, accordingly the map of environmentally sensitive areas of El- Fayoum Depression is produced. The obtained data reveals that the high sensitive areas for desertification in the study area are found in the southern parts of Qarun Lake, it represents 18.31 % of the depression area. The areas of sensitive for desertification exhibit an area of 54.09 % of the total area. The areas of moderate sensitive for desertification exhibit an area of 27.6 % of the total area. The integration of different factors contributing to desertification sensitivity may lead to plan a successful combating. The use of remote sensing data and GIS proved to be useful in visualizing the sensitivity situation of different desertification parameters.

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 September 2013
  • Revise Date: 29 November 2013
  • Accept Date: 30 December 2013

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