Modelling of Soil Degradation in Semi-arid Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques, Southern Jordan As Case Study

This research dealt with the topic of modeling the soil lost in a semi-arid desert area in the Ma'an watershed and its surroundings in Ma'an Governorate using the global equation model, GIS, and remote sensing technology. Erosion is one of the most important geomorphological processes, and its intensity varies according to its causative factors. Soil erosion risks were assessed by applying a mathematical model within the GIS environment based on six factors affecting soil erosion. To apply the RUSAL model to the study area, a number of variables and factors must be derived based on the data of rainfall rates, land uses, soil characteristics, slope values, and vegetation index (NDVI). Several layers were established for the previous factors and then combined to produce a map for evaluating the risk of erosion, which was divided into five degrees. The results showed that only 0.004% of the study area falls within the severe and very severe classes, and 99.29% of the study area falls within the very light class, which reflects a very low susceptibility to erosion. The results also showed that rainfall and the topographic factor, which includes the degree of slope, contribute effectively to the occurrence of water erosion in the studied area. The study also proved that geographic information systems and remote sensing technology are effective tools in mapping soil and its related problems, especially that of water erosion.