Using Geospatial Techniques to Test the Efficiency of Spectral Indicators to Monitor Drought and Desertification Phenomena in Tuz Khurmatu
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Abstract
Drought and desertification are among the most serious environmental challenges facing Iraq in recent decades, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as Tuz Khurmatu District, located in Salah al-Din Governorate. Climate change, along with unsustainable human activities, has accelerated land degradation, reduced vegetation cover, and increased the frequency of dust storms, negatively impacting the environment and local economy.
With significant advancements in geospatial technologies, particularly Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS), it is now possible to monitor environmental phenomena with high temporal and spatial accuracy, enabling a deeper understanding of changes on the Earth's surface. Spectral indices derived from satellite images provide effective tools for measuring drought severity and vegetation degradation, although the efficiency of these indices varies depending on the environmental and geographical characteristics of each region. This research aims to test the efficiency of a set of spectral indices in monitoring and assessing drought and desertification in Tuz Khurmatu District, by integrating these indices with geospatial tools to create an accurate picture of environmental changes, which contributes to supporting sustainable environmental planning and finding solutions to mitigate land degradation.
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