Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Assessing the Vulnerability to Soil Erosion of the Mahabad Dam Drainage Basin Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
Iraj Jabbari
Davoud Talebpour
Razi University of Kermanshah, Iran
Abstract
     The drainage basin of Mahabad Dam has been exposed to severe erosion as a result of land use change. In this basin sediment yield takes place in only two measuring stations; therefore, it is often difficult in smaller basins to locate erodible areas and to plan land use and conservation. To do this, one way is to categorize areas with different erosion susceptibility based on certain parameters used in this study. These parameters are slope, altitude, rock erodibility, land use, precipitation and concentration time. The distribution maps prepared on each of these parameters and their overlaps have shown that areas with more severe slopes and higher rock erodibility are categorized as highly susceptible to erosion. However, in areas with resistant rocks, change of land use has been the determining factor. Land use is the only parameter modified by man, and it is the only one which can be quickly and effectively changed. Hence, it seems that the upstream areas of basins with low concentration time, severe slope, high erodibility, and high precipitation, yet with forest and pasturing coverage, are in greater need of preventative measures.
Keywords
Mahabad Dam
Erosion Zoning
Soil Preservation
GIS

Subjects

Aronoff, S., 1991- Geographical Information System: A Management Perspective. WDL Publications, Ottawa, 29400, Canada. Ellison, W. D., 1944 - Studies of raindrop erosion, Agric. Engng 25, 131-136, 181-182.
Erlich, R. R., 1988- The Loss of diversity: causes and consequences. In: Wilson E. O. and Peter F. M. (eds), Biodiversity. National Academic Press, Washington D. C., pp. 21-27.
Fernandez, C., Wu. J. Q., McCool, D. K.,Stöckle, C.O., 2003- Estimating water erosion and sediment yield with GIS, RUSLE and SEED.J. Soil Water Conserv. 58, 633-647.
Feoli, E., Vuerich, L. G., Zerihun, W., 2000- Evaluation of environmental degradation in northern Ethiopia using GIS  to integrate vegetation, geomorphological, erosion and socio-economic factors. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 91, 313-325.
 Jain, M. K. & Koyhyari, 2000- Estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield using GIS, Hydrological Sciences Journal, 45(5), 771-786.
 Jain,  S. K. & Goal, M.K., 2002- Assessing the vulnerability to soil erosion of the Ukai Dam catchments using remote sensing and GIS, Hydrological Sciences Journal, 47(1),31-40.
 MAPA/ICONA1983- Psiajes erosive en el surest espaūol:ensayo de methodologśa para el studio de su cualificiun y cuabtificiūn. Proyecto LUCDEME,66p,Espaūa.
 MAPA/ICONA,1991- Metodologia para el diseūode actuaciones agrohidrologias en 1 as cuencas del ambito Mediterraneo. Proyecto LUCDEME,pp.1031,Espaūa.
Mati, B. M., Morgan, R. CP. C., Gichuki, F. N., Quinton, J.N., Bower, T.R. & Liniger, H.P., 2000- Assessment of erosion hazard with the USLE and GIS: A case study of the upper Ewaso Nágiro north basin of Kenya, JAG, 2,2,pp.78-86.   
Millward, A. A., Mersey, J.E., 1999- Adapting the RUSLE to model soil erosion potential in a mountaianous tropical watershed. Catena 38,109-129.
 Mitsova ,H., Hofierka, J., Zlocha, M., Iverson ,L.R., 1996- Modelling topographic potential for erosion and deposition using GIS. Int. J.Geogr. Inform. Syst. 10,629-641.
Molnar, D. K. and Julien, P. Y., 1998- Estimation of upland erosion using GIS, Elsevier Science Ltd, 24, 2, pp.183-192. MOPU 1985- Methodologśa para la evaluaciún de la erosión hśdrica. Direcciún General del Medio Ambiente, Espaüa.
Musgrave, G.W.,1947- The quantitative evaluation of  factors in water erosion-a first approximation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 0,133-138.
 NRA,1993- River landscape assessment: Methods and procedures. Conservation Technical Handbook, No. 2, National River Authority,UK.
 Pacific Southwest Inter- Agency Committee,1968- Factors affecting sediment yield and measures for the reduction of erosion and sediment yield, 13pp.
 Şāahin, Ş. & Kurum, E., 2002- Erosion risk analysis by GIS in environmental impact assessments: a case study- Seyhan Köpü Dam construction, Jurnal of Environmental  Management, 66, 239-247.
 Wischmeier, W.H. & Smith, D. D. ,1965- Predicting rainfall-erosion losses from cropland east of the Rocky mountains. U.S. Department  Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Handbook 282, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 47 pp.
Wischmeier, W.H. & Smith, D.D. ,1978, predicting rainfall erosion losses-A guide to conservation planning.. U.S. Department  Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Handbook. 537, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 55 pp.
 Wilson, E. O.,1992- The Diversity of life . Belknap Press, Cambridge, MA, USA.
 Yitayew, M., Pokrzy wka, S. J., Renard, K.G.,1999.- Using GIS for facilitating erosion esrimation. Appl. Eng. Agric. 15, 295-301.
 Zurayk, R., Sayegh, F.A.A., Hamadeh, S. & Chehab, A., 2001- AGIS methodology for soil degradation evaluation, In: Stott D. E., Mohtar G.C.(eds), Sustaining the global farm. , pp.1082-1089, Selected paper from the 10th International Soil Consevation Organization Meeting, 24-29, 1999- Purdue University and USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laburatory.
Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences
Volume 16, Issue 62
Winter 2007, vol. 16, no. 62
Winter 2007
Pages 176-187