Desertification Sensitivity Analysis Using MEDALUS Model and GIS: A Case Study of the Oases of Middle Draa Valley, Morocco

Sensors
Atman Ait LamqademAbdelmejid Rahimi

Abstract

Oases can play a significant role in the sustainable economic development of arid and Saharan regions. The aim of this study was to map the desertification-sensitive areas in the Middle Draa Valley (MDV), which is in the southeast of Morocco. A total of 13 indices that affect desertification processes were identified and analyzed using a geographic information system. The Mediterranean desertification and land use approach; which has been widely used in the Mediterranean regions due to its simplicity; flexibility and rapid implementation strategy; was applied. All the indices were grouped into four main quality indices; i.e., soil quality; climate quality; vegetation quality and management quality indices. Each quality index was constructed by the combination of several sub-indicators. In turn; the geometric mean of the four quality index maps was used to construct a map of desertification-sensitive areas; which were classified into four classes (i.e., low; moderate; high and very high sensitivity). Results indicated that only 16.63% of the sites in the study were classified as least sensitive to desertification; and 50.34% were classified as highly and very highly sensitive areas. Findings also showed that climate and human pr...Continue Reading

References

Mar 16, 2007·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·A SepehrJ B Jamali
Sep 19, 1975·Science·R D JacksonJ Otterman
Aug 15, 2007·Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences : PJBS·Manuchehr Farajzadeh, Mahbobeh Nik Egbal

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 21, 2019·Sensors·Carson K LeungAlfredo Cuzzocrea

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
imaging technique

Software Mentioned

WorldClim
GIS
ORMVAO
MEDALUS
IMPETUS
Sen2Cor

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Allergy and Asthma

Allergy and asthma are inflammatory disorders that are triggered by the activation of an allergen-specific regulatory t cell. These t cells become activated when allergens are recognized by allergen-presenting cells. Here is the latest research on allergy and asthma.