The use of remote sensing for desertification studies: A review

The study and assessment of desertification and/or the advance or retreat arid areas as a function natural anthropogenic causes is necessary for prediction future risks from climate change, to support policymaking, action plans, mitigation measures that can be taken at local global scales. Remote sensing enables modelling, monitoring, behaviour several elements desertification. There have been numerous approaches using remote over years. This research explored timeline distribution studies in studying Additionally, review evaluated key methods variables used data. use trace back 1991. From 2015 2020, more than 40 articles were published per year, showing there has recent increase techniques its availability monitoring Most regions world affected by are being studied sensing, however, marked geographical variation between number various regions, with Asia having disproportionately high compared America Africa. country most China. In terms satellite data, Landsat images provide bulk data desertification, especially Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor. Classification change detection land cover/land vegetation attributes (e.g., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI) techniques. Finally, found major differences ranges thresholds applied these when determining presence risk Therefore, need develop changes selected variables, which determine