Document Type : Research Paper
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Abstract
Desertification is one of the most difficult issues which has been taken into consideration in the world. The main objective of this study is determination of lands affected by desertification using remote sensing and geographic information systems, in Sabzevar. To meet the objective, Satellite imagery of Landsat TM- 29 April 1987 and 13 May 2001 were selected and used, after haze and geometric correction. Principal Components (PC) and False Color Composit (FCC) were calculated, finally FCC521: RGB was selected for background of classification because of the best correlation. The Satellite images were classified by the maximum likelihood algorithm on the basis of field data. A study was conducted to determine the iso line of change in groundwater salinity and depth, in the study area, by using subsurface water data ( quality and quantity). The results show that on non saline parts and in the area of gypsum, the changes are negligible. The area of land uses are more or less the same except in agriculture which the land has increased by 3632 ha and in urban area which developed 672 ha. Merging and processing the whole data shows that the agriculture lands increased from 1987 to 2001. More salinity and less depth of groundwater are the results of groundwater data analysis, specially in south east part of the region
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