Remote sensing and GIS for artificial recharge study, runoff estimation and planning in Ayyar basin, Tamil Nadu, India

This paper focuses on artificial groundwater recharge study in Ayyar basin, Tamil Nadu, India. The basin is covered by hard crystalline rock and overall has poor groundwater conditions. Hence, an artificial recharge study was carried out in this region through a project sponsored by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. The Indian Remote Sensing satellite 1A Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor II (IRS 1A LISS II) satellite imagery, aerial photographs and geophysical resistivity data were used to prioritize suitable sites for artificial recharge and to estimate the volume of aquifer dimension available to recharge. The runoff water available for artificial recharge in the basin is estimated through Soil Conservation Service curve number method. The land use/land cover, hydrological soil group and storm rainfall data in different watershed areas were used to calculate the runoff in the watersheds. The weighted curve number for each watershed is obtained through spatial intersection of land use/land cover and hydrological soil group through GeoMedia 3.0 Professional GIS software. Artificial recharge planning was derived on the basis of availability of runoff, aquifer dimension, priority areas and water table conditions in different watersheds in the basin.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Assessment of soil erosion using RUSLE and GIS: a case study of the Maotiao River watershed,Guizhou Province,China

Due to the existence of fragile karst geo-ecological environments, such as environments with extremely poor soil cover, low soil-forming velocity, and fragmentized terrain and physiognomy, as well as inappropriate and intensive land use, soil erosion is a serious problem in Guizhou Province, which is located in the centre of the karst areas of southwestern China; evaluation of soil loss and spatial distribution for conservation planning is urgently needed. This study integrated the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) with a GIS to assess soil loss and identify risk erosion areas in the Maotiao River watershed of Guizhou. Current land use/cover and management practices were evaluated to determine their effects on average annual soil loss and future soil conservation practices were discussed. Data used to generate the RUSLE factors included a Landsat Thematic Mapper image (land cover), digitized topographic and soil maps, and precipitation data. The results of the study compare well with the other studies and local data, and provide useful information for decision makers and planners to take appropriate land management measures in the area. It thus indicates the RUSLE–GIS model is a useful tool for evaluating and mapping soil erosion quantitatively and spatially at a larger watershed scale in Guizhou.     

Assessment of soil erosion in a tropical mountain river basin of the southern Western Ghats,India using RUSLE and GIS

Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE) model coupled with transport limited sediment delivery(TLSD) function was used to predict the longtime average annual soil loss, and to identify the critical erosion-/deposition-prone areas in a tropical mountain river basin, viz., Muthirapuzha River Basin(MRB; area=271.75 km~2), in the southern Western Ghats, India. Mean gross soil erosion in MRB is 14.36 t ha~(-1) yr~(-1), whereas mean net soil erosion(i.e., gross erosion-deposition) is only 3.60 t ha~(-1) yr~(-1)(i.e., roughly 25% of the gross erosion). Majority of the basin area(~86%) experiences only slight erosion(5 t ha~(-1) yr~(-1)), and nearly 3% of the area functions as depositional environment for the eroded sediments(e.g., the terraces of stream reaches, the gentle plains as well as the foot slopes of the plateau scarps and the terrain with concordant summits). Although mean gross soil erosion rates in the natural vegetation belts are relatively higher, compared to agriculture, settlement/built-up areas and tea plantation, the sediment transport efficiency in agricultural areas and tea plantation is significantly high,reflecting the role of human activities on accelerated soil erosion. In MRB, on a mean basis, 0.42 t of soil organic carbon(SOC) content is being eroded per hectare annually, and SOC loss from the 4th order subbasins shows considerable differences, mainly due to the spatial variability in the gross soil erosion rates among the sub-basins. The quantitative results, on soil erosion and deposition, modelled using RUSLE and TLSD, are expected to be beneficial while formulating comprehensive land management strategies for reducing the extent of soil degradation in tropical mountain river basins.     

Soil erosion prediction using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in a GIS framework,Chania, Northwestern Crete,Greece

Soil erosion is a growing problem in southern Greece and particularly in the island of Crete, the biggest Greek island with great agricultural activity. Soil erosion not only decreases agricultural productivity, but also reduces the water availability. In the current study, an effort to predict potential annual soil loss has been conducted. For the prediction, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) has been adopted in a Geographical Information System framework. The RUSLE factors were calculated (in the form of raster layers) for the nine major watersheds which cover the northern part of the Chania Prefecture. The R-factor was calculated from monthly and annual precipitation data. The K-factor was estimated using soil maps available from the Soil Geographical Data Base of Europe at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The LS-factor was calculated from a 30-m digital elevation model. The C-factor was calculated using Remote Sensing techniques. The P-factor in absence of data was set to 1. The results show that an extended part of the area is undergoing severe erosion. The mean annual soil loss is predicted up to ∼200 (t/ha year⁻¹) for some watersheds showing extended erosion and demanding the attention of local administrators.     

遥感与GIS支持下的南桐矿区水土流失评价与区划

以重庆市南桐矿区为研究对象,运用遥感和GIS技术获取对水土流失影响较大的植被覆盖度、地形坡度、土地利用类型等信息并进行空间叠加分析,计算了水土流失类型及面积。研究结果表明,南桐矿区水土流失面积262.91km2,侵蚀模数2281t/(km2?a),水土流失强度以轻度和中度为主,其中轻度流失132.37km2,中度流失108.95km2。根据区域地貌类型以及水土流失特征,将研究区水土流失划分为盆边低山丘陵中强度流失区、北部坪状低山中轻度流失区和盆边中山轻度流失区三个类型区,盆边低山丘陵中强度流失区以中度流失为主;北部坪状低山中轻度流失区以轻度流失为主;盆边中山轻度流失区虽然以轻度流失为主,但微度流失也占有相当部分的比重。      

Mapping soil erosion susceptibility using remote sensing and GIS: a case of the Upper Nam Wa Watershed,Nan Province,Thailand

Land degradation is still a very common problem in the mountains of Asia because of inappropriate land use practice in steep topography. Many studies have been carried out to map shifting cultivation and areas susceptible to soil erosion. Mostly, estimated soil loss is taken as the basis to classify the level of soil loss susceptibility of area. Factors that influence soil erosion are: rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, crop management and conservation practices. Thus the reliability of estimated soil loss is based on how accurately the different factors were estimated or prepared. As each and every small pixel of our earth surface is different from one area to another, the manner in which the study area was discretized into smaller homogenous sizes and how the most accurate and efficient technique were adopted to estimate the soil loss are very important. The purpose of this study is to produce erosion susceptibility maps for an area that has suffered because of shifting cultivation located in the mountainous regions of Northern Thailand. For this purpose, an integrated approach using RS and GIS-based methods is proposed. Data from the Upper Nam Wa Watershed, a mountainous area of the Northern Thailand were used. An Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) imagine image processor has been used for the digital analysis of satellite data and topographical analysis of the contour data for deriving the land use/land cover and the topographical data of the watershed, respectively. ARCInfo and ARCView have been used for carrying out geographical data analysis. The watershed was discretized into hydrologically, topographically, and geographically homogeneous grid cells to capture the watershed heterogeneity. The soil erosion in each cell was calculated using the universal soil loss equation (USLE) by carefully determining its various parameters and classifying the watershed into different levels of soil erosion severity. Results show that during the time of this study most of the areas under shifting cultivation fell in the highest severity class of susceptibility.     

Assessing soil erosion in Mediterranean karst landscapes of Lebanon using remote sensing and GIS

Maps showing the potential for soil erosion at 1:100,000 scale are produced in a study area within Lebanon that can be used for evaluating erosion of Mediterranean karstic terrain with two different sets of impact factors built into an erosion model. The first set of factors is: soil erodibility, morphology, land cover/use and rainfall erosivity. The second is obtained by the first adding a fifth factor, rock infiltration. High infiltration can reflect high recharge, therefore decreasing the potential of surface runoff and hence the quantity of transported materials. Infiltration is derived as a function of lithology, lineament density, karstification and drainage density, all of which can be easily extracted from satellite imagery. The influence of these factors is assessed by a weight/rate approach sharing similarities between quantitative and qualitative methods and depending on pair-wise comparison matrix.The main outcome was the production of factorial maps and erosion susceptibility maps (scale 1:100,000). Spatial and attribute comparison of erosion maps indicates that the model that includes a measure of rock infiltration better represents erosion potential. Field investigation of rills and gullies shows 87.5% precision of the model with rock infiltration. This is 17.5% greater than the precision of the model without rock infiltration. These results indicate the necessity and importance of integrating information on infiltration of rock outcrops to assess soil erosion in Mediterranean karst landscapes.     

Application of a resistivity survey and geographical information system (GIS) analysis for hydrogeological zoning of a piedmont area, Himalayan foothill region, India

A Geographical Information System (GIS) has been used for the integration of the results of 70 vertical electrical soundings and hydrogeological data in the piedmont zone of the Himalayan foothills region of Uttaranchal, India. Indian remote sensing (IRS) LISS-III data has been used to prepare thematic maps for the geomorphology and slope maps of the area. The ranges of electrical resistivity values have been assigned to the different formations by calibrating electrical resistivity values with the borehole data. Electrical resistivity, groundwater level monitoring, and borehole and remote sensing data have been integrated in the GIS analysis to delineate the hydrogeological zoning in the study area. Suitable weights were assigned to the different features affecting the groundwater potential. The total score for a particular location is translated in terms of groundwater potential of the area. The results indicate that the southern part of the study area has a very good groundwater potential for meeting the demand of water for irrigation and domestic purposes whereas the steeply sloping area in the northern part, having high relief, has a poor groundwater potential. The resulting delineation of groundwater potential zones are in general agreement with the available yield data of the tube wells.

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Resumen Se ha utilizado un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG) para la integración de los resultados de 70 sondeos eléctricos verticales y datos hidrogeológicos en la zona piamonte de la región al pie de los Himalaya de Uttaranchal, India. Se han utilizados datos de sensores remotos Indios (IRS) LISS-III para elaborar mapas temáticos de la geomorfología y mapas de pendientes del área. Se han asignado los rangos de valores de resistividad eléctrica a diferentes formaciones mediante la calibración de valores de resistividad eléctrica con datos de barrenos. Se han integrado datos de resistividad eléctrica, monitoreo de niveles de agua subterránea, y barrenos, y datos de sensores remotos mediante un análisis SIG para delimitar la zonificación hidrogeológica del área de estudio. Se asignaron pesos apropiados a las diferentes características que afectan el potencial del agua subterránea. El puntaje total de un lugar particular se ha transformado en términos de potencial de agua subterránea del área. Los resultados indican que la parte sur del área de estudio tiene muy buen potencial de agua subterránea para satisfacer la demanda de agua por riego y uso doméstico mientras que el área de pendientes pronunciadas en la parte norte, de alto relieve, tiene potencial pobre de agua subterránea. La delimitación de zonas potenciales de agua subterránea encaja muy bien con los datos disponibles de rendimiento de pozos entubados.

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Résumé Un système d’information géographique (SIG) a été utilisé pour l’intégration de résultats en provenance de 70 sondages électriques et données hydrogéologiques dans la zone de piedmont, au pied de l’Himalaya dans la région de Uttaranchal en Inde. Des données du satellite IRS LISS-III ont été utilisées pour préparer des cartes thématiques sur la géomorphologie et les pentes de la zone d’étude. Les valeurs de résistivités électriques ont été assignées aux différentes formations en les calibrant sur les données de sondages. La résistivité électrique, la piézométrie, et les données de sondages et de télédétection ont été intégrées dans une analyse par SIG pour délimiter les zones hydrogéologiques de l’aire d’étude. Des poids ont été assignés aux différents éléments affectant le potentiel en eau souterraine. Le résultat final pour une localisation particulière est traduit en terme de potentiel en eau souterraine. Les résultats indiquent que la partie Sud a un potentiel très bon pour la demande en eau domestique et eau d’irrigation, tandis que les zones plus pentues dans la partie Nord, caractérisée par un relief élevé, présente un potentiel assez pauvre. La délinéation globale des zones à différents potentiels s’accorde assez bien avec les données disponibles concernant la capacité des puits.

     

Suitability of transport equations in modelling soil erosion for a small Loess Plateau catchment

Erosion models have not often been applied to very steep terrain such as the gully catchments of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the suitability of a number of transport equations for use in erosion modelling under Loess Plateau conditions. To do this the equations were programmed into the LISEM model, which was applied to the 3.5 km² Danangou catchment in the rolling hills region of the Loess Plateau. Previous evaluations of transport equations used either flume tests or river sections, and did no spatial modelling. The results show that some equations predicted physically impossible concentrations (defined as above 1060 g/l). The results were evaluated by using two methods: 1) by comparing predicted and measured sedigraphs and sediment yield at the catchment outlet, and 2) by comparing the fraction of the catchment in which physically impossible transport capacities occurred. The results indicated that for the small grain sizes, high density flows and steep slopes of the gully catchments on the Loess Plateau the Shields parameter attained very high values. Furthermore, the transport threshold can usually be neglected in the equations. Most of the resulting equations were too sensitive to slope angle (Abrahams, Schoklitsch, Yalin, Bagnold, Low and Rickenmann), so that transport rates were overpredicted for steep slopes and underpredicted for gentle slopes. The Yang equation appeared to be too sensitive to grainsize. The Govers equation performed best, mainly because of its low slope dependency, and is therefore recommended for erosion models that simulate sediment transport by flowing water in conditions with small grain sizes and steep slopes.     

Analysing the relationship between drought and soil erosion using vegetation health index and RUSLE models in Godavari middle sub-basin,India

Drought is a natural phenomenon posing severe implications for soil, groundwater and agricultural yield. It has been recognized as one of the most pervasive global change drivers to affect the soil. Soil being a weakly renewable resource takes a long time to form, but it takes no time to degrade. However, the response of soil to drought conditions as soil loss is not manifested in the existing literature. Thus, this study makes a concerted effort to analyze the relationship between drought conditions and soil erosion in the middle sub-basin of the Godavari River in India. MODIS remote sensing data was utilized for driving drought indices during 2000–2019. Firstly, we constricted Temperature condition index (TCI) and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) from Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from MODIS data. TCI and VCI were then integrated to determine the Vegetation Health Index (VHI). Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was utilized for estimating soil loss. The relationship between drought condition and vegetation was ascertained using the Pearson correlation. Most of the northern and southern watersheds experienced severe drought condition in the sub-basin during 2000–2019. The mean frequency of the drought occurrence was 7.95 months. The average soil erosion in the sub-basin was estimated to be 9.88 t ha^?1 year^?1. A positive relationship was observed between drought indices and soil erosion values (r value being 0.35). However, wide variations were observed in the distribution of spatial correlation. Among various factors, the slope length and steepness were found to be the main drivers of soil erosion in the sub-basin. Thus, the study calls for policy measures to lessen the impact of drought and soil erosion.     

基于GIS RS与AHP耦合技术的矿山水力侵蚀研究

晋陕蒙(西)地区的水力侵蚀受控于多种因素。在详尽地分析了影响水力侵蚀的各种因子基础上,确定母质类型、植被覆盖、地貌类型、沟壑密度、地形坡度、土地利用类型、矿山开发面积、降雨强度、水土保持、大风强度作为其主控致灾因子。根据遥感(RS)解译成果,应用GIS分别建立了各主控因子的专题层图,利用先进的层次分析方法(AHP),确定影响水力侵蚀的各致灾因子的权重系数。通过GIS、RS与AHP耦合技术的应用,对各子专题层图进行加权复合叠加,利用频率和频数分布直方图,确定出水力侵蚀的分区阈值,构建水力侵蚀的危险度评价的多源地学信息复合叠加模型,并对水力侵蚀危险度进行了分区评价。水力侵蚀模型的建立,为水力侵蚀的分区评价与预测提供了理论依据,使评价结果更加科学、合理、准确。     

Surface runoff in a torrent catchment area in Middle Europe and its prevention

The Schesa, a sinister contributory torrent to the Ill river near Bludenz (federal province of Vorarlberg) is the largest basin-shaped gully of Middle Europe and endangers the underlying villages by torrential debris flow and gigantic mass movements. The catchment is characterized by a complex geological situation, high annual precipitation and torrential rains from spring to early autumn, which cause enormous amounts of surface runoff. Based on field investigations comprising rain simulation experiments on representative plots, investigations on land-use, vegetation cover, soil physical characteristics, geology, hydrogeology and other features of the catchment area, surface runoff coefficient maps were developed. They formed the basis for assessment of runoff potential for different scenarios in vegetation cover and land-use intensity. Calculation of runoff for the recurrent design event by use of an improved run-time method showed the urgent necessity of runoff reduction measures in large parts of the catchment area above the gully. Based on the modelling results a concept for reduction of both, surface runoff and amount of deep percolating water has been elaborated.     

Use of GIS for optimalization of human activity in a catchment area: An example of the Beauce region (France)

The quality of groundwater often represents a limiting factor for its exploitation. The chemical composition of groundwater is a very complicated process involving geochemical, hydrochemical, and biochemical interaction between the water and the rock with which it is in contact. In addition, as a result of human activity, the deterioration of groundwater quality is a serious problem. The use of a geographic information system (GIS) combining various data may help solve this problem. The article describes multicriterion analysis applied to the Beauce basin in France, which is a part of the SAGE project of the BRGM Orléans.     

Comparison of soil erosion and deposition rates using radiocesium, RUSLE, and buried soils in dolines in East Tennessee

 Three dolines (sinkholes), each representing different land uses (crop, grass, and forest) in a karst area in East Tennesse, were selected to determine soil erosional and depositional rates. Three methods were used to estimate the rates: fallout radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) redistribution, buried surface soil horizons (Ab horizon), and the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). When ¹³⁷Cs redistribution was examined, the average soil erosion rates were calculated to be 27 t ha^–1 yr^–1 at the cropland, 3 t ha^–1 yr^–1 at the grassland, and 2 t ha^–1 yr^–1 at the forest. By comparison, cropland erosion rate of 2.6 t ha^–1 yr^–1, a grassland rate of 0.6 t ha^–1 yr^–1, and a forest rate of 0.2 t ha^–1 yr^–1 were estimated by RUSLE. The ¹³⁷Cs method expressed higher rates than RUSLE because RUSLE tends to overestimate low erosion rates and does not account for deposition. The buried surface horizons method resulted in deposition rates that were 8 t ha^–1 yr^–1 (during 480 yr) at the cropland, 12 t ha^–1 yr^–1 (during 980 yr) at the grassland, and 4 t ha^–1 yr^–1 (during 101 yr) at the forest site. By examining ¹³⁷Cs redistribution, soil deposition rates were found to be 23 t ha^–1 yr^–1 at the cropland, 20 t ha^–1 yr^–1 at the grassland, and 16 t ha^–1 yr^–1 at the forest site. The variability in deposition rates was accounted for by temporal differences;¹³⁷Cs expressed deposition during the last 38 yr, whereas Ab horizons represented deposition during hundreds of years. In most cases, land use affected both erosion and deposition rates – the highest rates of soil redistribution usually representing the cropland and the lowest, the forest. When this was not true, differences in the rates were attributed to differences in the size, shape, and closure of the dolines. Received: 10 October 1995 · Accepted: 13 October 1995     

Modeling soil erosion using RUSLE and GIS in a watershed occupied by rural settlement in the Brazilian Cerrado

The installation of a rural settlement complex in the watershed stream Indaiá has promoted changes in land-use and vegetation cover dynamics; however, the effects of intensive agriculture and cattle farming in rural settlements on soil loss rates are not well known. Predictive models implemented in geographic information systems have proven to be effective tools for estimating erosive processes. The erosion predictive model Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a useful tool for analyzing, establishing and managing soil erosion. RUSLE has been widely used to estimate annual averages of soil loss, by both interrill and rill erosion, worldwide. Therefore, the aim of this work was to estimate the soil loss in the watershed stream Indaiá, using the RUSLE model and geoprocessing techniques. To estimate soil loss, the following factors were spatialized: erosivity (R), erodibility (K), topography (LS), land-use and management (C) and conservation practices (P); the annual soil loss values were calculated using the RUSLE model equation. The estimated value of soil loss in the hydrographic basin ranged from 0 to 4082.16 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 and had an average value of 47.81 Mg ha^?1 year^?1. These results have demonstrated that 68.16 % of the study area showed little or no soil loss based on the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO 1980) classification. When comparing the average value of soil loss obtained using the RUSLE model with the Natural Potential for Erosion, a 16-fold reduction in soil was found, which highlighted the fact that vegetation cover (C factor) has a greater influence than other factors (R, K and LS) on soil loss prediction attenuation. These results lead to the conclusion that soil loss occurs by different methods in each settlement in the basin and that erosive processes modeled by geoprocessing have the potential to contribute to an orderly land management process.     

Groundwater-recharge estimation using a surface electrical resistivity method in the Himalayan foothill region, India

A new method for the estimation of groundwater recharge is presented using a surface resistivity method and isotope technique. A linear relationship was obtained between the resistivity of the unsaturated top layer and the recharge estimated using a tritium tagging technique for the piedmont zone in the Himalayan foothill region, India. The relation can be used for the estimation of recharge using surface electrical resistivity measurements for the same geological formation. The data used for the study are 32 vertical electrical resistivity sounding measurements at a station interval of 2 km, tritium tagging studies at six selected sites and pre- and post-monsoon water-level monitoring in the piedmont zone of the Himalayan foothill region (India). The results of this study were mapped using GIS techniques. In the study area, a well-defined empirical relationship between unsaturated zone resistivity and recharge per cent was obtained. The method suggests a new application of surface electrical resistivity data in determining recharge per cent due to infiltration. The technique of estimating groundwater recharge using surface electrical resistivity measurement is efficient, economic, less time consuming and easy to use compared with other methods used for this purpose.

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Resumen Se presenta un método nuevo para estimar recarga de agua subterránea utilizando un método superficial de resistividad y una técnica de isótopos. Se ha obtenido una relación linear entre la resistividad de la capa superior no saturada y la recarga estimada utilizando la técnica de tritio marcado etiquetado para la zona de piedemontes en la región de colinas al pie del Himalaya, India. La relación puede utilizarse para estimar recarga usando mediciones superficiales de resistividad eléctrica para la misma formación geológica. Los datos utilizados en el estudio consisten de treinta y dos mediciones de sondeos eléctricos verticales de resistividad en un intervalo de estaciones de dos km, estudios de tritio marcado en seis sitios seleccionados y monitoreo de niveles de agua, pre-monzón y post-monzón, en la zona piedemontes de la región de colinas al pie del Himalaya (India). Se mapearon los resultados de este estudio utilizando técnicas SIG. Se obtuvo para el área una relación empírica bien definida entre la resistividad de la zona no saturada y el porcentaje de recarga. El método sugiere una aplicación nueva de los datos superficiales de resistividad eléctrica en la determinación del porcentaje de recarga ocasionado por infiltración. La técnica de estimar recarga de agua subterránea utilizando mediciones superficiales de resistividad eléctrica es eficiente, económica, demanda poco tiempo, y fácil de utilizar en comparación con otros métodos que se utilizan para este propósito.

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Resumé Une nouvelle méthode permettant destimer la recharge des eaux souterraines a été présentée, utilisant une méthode de résistivité de surface et des méthodes isotopiques. Une relation linéaire a été obtenue entre la résistivité de la zone non saturée et la recharge estimée grâce au Tritium dans la zone du Piedmont au pied de lHimalaya, Inde. La relation peut être utilisée pour lestimation de la recharge en utilisant la méthode de résistivité de surface dans la même formation géologique. Les données utilisées pour létude sont vingt-deux sondages électriques réalisés tous les deux kilomètres, létude de la signature du tritium en six endroits sélectionnés, et la comparaison des niveaux piézométriques pré et post moussons. Les résultats de cette étude ont été cartographiés en utilisant les techniques SIG. Dans la zone détude une relation très bien définie entre la recharge (%) et la résistivité de la zone non saturée a été obtenue. La méthode suggère une nouvelle application de la résistivité de surface, pour déterminer le pourcentage de la recharge due à linfiltration. Cette technique est efficace, économique, rapide et facile à mettre en oeuvre, en comparaison dautres techniques utilisées pour atteindre le même objectif.

     

Rapid erosion of the coast of Sagar island, West Bengal - India

The coastal zone of the Sagar island has been studied. The island has been subjected to erosion by natural processes and to a little extent by anthropogenic activities over a long period. Major landforms identified in the coastal area of the Sagar island are the mud flats/salt marshes, sandy beaches/dunes and mangroves. The foreshore sediments are characterized by silty, slightly sandy mud, slightly silty sand and silty sand. Samples 500 m inland from high waterline are silty slightly sandy mud, and by clayey slightly sandy mud. The extent of coastline changes are made by comparing the topographic maps of 1967 and satellite imageries of 1996, 1998 and 1999. Between 1967 and 1999 about 29.8 km² of the island has been eroded and the accreted area is only 6.03 km². Between 1996 and 1998 the area underwent erosion of 13.64 km² while accretion was 0.48 km². From 1998 to 1999, 3.26 km² additional area was eroded with meager accretion. Erosion from 1997 to 1999 was estimated at 0.74 km² /year; however, from 1996 to 1999, the erosion rate was calculated as 5.47 km²/year. The areas severely affected by erosion are the northeastern, southwestern and southeastern faces of the island. As a consequence of coastal erosion, the mud flats/salt marshes, sandy beaches/dunes and mangroves have been eroded considerably. Deposition is experienced mainly on the western and southern part of the island. The island is built primarily by silt and clay, which can more easily be eroded by the waves, tides and cyclonic activities than a sandy coast. Historic sea level rises accompanied by land subsidence lead to differing rates of erosion at several pockets, thus periodically establishing new erosion planes.     

黄土丘陵区土壤侵蚀链垂直带水沙流空间分布

采用多坡段组合模型、人工模拟降雨实验研究了土壤侵蚀链垂直带水沙流空间分布变化特征。结果表明:愈向下坡方向的坡段产流量愈大,单位面积、单位时间的产流量按坡段排列为:谷坡>梁峁坡下部>梁峁坡中部>梁峁坡上部。雨强为29.7mm/h时,坡面上没有沟蚀发育;雨强为60.5mm/h时,细沟主要分布在梁峁坡下部和谷坡处;雨强为90 2mm/h时,各种侵蚀形态在坡面均有较好发育,细沟的出现部位一直伸展到梁峁坡中部和上部之间。由于上坡来水来沙的作用,梁峁坡的产沙量增大了20.2%～63.5%,谷坡的产沙量增大了42.9%～74.5%。     

西南岩溶区水土流失与石漠化的变化关系研究——以重庆南川岩溶区为例

以重庆南川区为例,利用TM遥感影像、Arcgis和Erdas软件,运用地图代数原理,采用图像数据转移矩阵计算,结果表明从1988年到2000年水土流失增强面积为9 605.89 hm2,减弱面积为79 947.85 hm2;石漠化强度增强面积为15 078.92 hm2,减弱面积为12 492.53 hm2。石漠化是水土流失长期作用的结果,水土流失是石漠化形成过程的阶段性表现,二者在成因上存在因果关系,但在生态治理恢复的过程中,水土流失减弱面积与石漠化减弱面积的变化不同步,在时间上存在滞后关系。造成这种滞后的现象,原因是石漠化土地生态的恢复过程较水土流失土地的长。      

Estimation of spatial patterns of soil erosion using remote sensing and GIS: a case study of Indravati catchment

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem in Indravati catchment. It carries the highest amount of sediments compared with other catchments in India. This catchment spreading an area of 41,285 km² is drained by river Indravati, which is one of the northern tributaries of the river Godavari in its lower reach. In the present study, USLE is used to estimate potential soil erosion from river Indravati catchment. Both magnitude and spatial distribution of potential soil erosion in the catchment is determined. The derived soil loss map from USLE model is classified into six categories ranging from slight to very severe risk depending on the calculated soil erosion amount. The soil erosion map is linked to elevation and slope maps to identify the area for conservation practice in order to reduce the soil loss. From the model output predictions, it is found that average erosion rate predicted is 18.00 tons/ha/year and sediment yield at the out let of the catchment is 22.30 Million tons per annum. The predicted sediment yield verified with the observed data.