Quantitative Classification of Desertification Severity for Degraded Aquifer Based on Remotely Sensed Drought Assessment

Natural and anthropogenic causes jointly lead to land degradation eventually desertification, which occurs in arid, semiarid, dry subhumid areas. Furthermore, extended drought periods may cause soil exposure erosion, and, finally, desertification. Several climatic, geological, hydrological, physiographic, biological, as well human factors contribute This paper presents a methodological procedure for the quantitative classification of desertification severity over watershed with degraded groundwater resources. It starts assessment using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), based on gridded satellite-based precipitation data (taken from CHIRPS database), then erosion potential is assessed through modeling. The levels are estimated use simulation model quality components scattered data, interpolated geostatistical tools. Finally, combination leads final mapping classification.