Application of the RUSLE model to estimate soil erosion using remote sensing and GIS in the two basins (Dhamar-Yarim) - Yemen

Abstract

The problem of soil erosion is one of the problems that many countries of the world suffer from, especially countries with complex topography and arid and semi-arid areas. Soil erosion causes the loss of large quantities and areas of fertile arable soil, especially in the mountainous regions of Yemen. This research aims to calculate the amount of eroded soil by applying the Global Equation of Soil Erosion (RUSLE) model using remote sensing technology and geographic information systems. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Landsat-9 satellite images were used to calculate the amount of soil lost and predict the amount of eroded soil in the (Dhamar-Yarim) basin in Yemen. The results showed that the rate of soil loss in the study area ranged between 1-113 tons/ha/year, at an annual rate of 11.9 tons/ha/year. The total amount of soil lost or eroded annually is about 1,025,500 tons. The areas with a high risk of water erosion amount to about 3% of the total area of the study area, concentrated in the southern regions, as in the Yarim basin. The study area in general is classified as having light erosion, as the areas where the amount of erosion is less than 1 ton/ha/year reaching an area of 73% of the total area of the area. The use of modern geographical techniques is an effective and useful tool that saves effort, time and money in studying the problem of water erosion.