Quantifying land
degradation and desertification in semi-arid regions through environmental monitoring
and assessment (A case study of the Imiter area, Toudgha River catchment, Morocco)
Essaghraoui Maryem, Algouti Abdellah and Algouti Ahmed
Disaster Advances; Vol. 17(2); 1-16;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/172da01016; (2024)
Abstract
This study focuses on the spatiotemporal drought analysis in the driest region of
southeastern Morocco, specifically the Imiter region within the eastern Anti Atlas
region. The region has witnessed various climate change events in recent years,
necessitating a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between climate
and environmental conditions. To achieve this, Landsat 7, 8 and 9 satellite data
were utilized for drought analysis. Additionally, satellite-based drought indices
including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Vegetation Condition
Index (VCI), were employed to assess the extent of drought evolution. Over a period
of two decades (from 1998 to 2022), 24 annual spatial maps were generated for each
index to identify the most affected areas.
The analysis of NDVI and VCI from 1998 to 2011 revealed significant year-to-year
variability, attributed to various factors such as declining piezometric levels,
deforestation and mining activities. These findings contribute to a better understanding
of drought dynamics in the study area and highlight the importance of monitoring
environmental conditions for effective drought management and mitigation strategies.
