Areal quantification changes assessment in Ibn Najm Marsh (Southern Iraq)‎ using multitemporal, multisptial and multispectral satellite images

الملخص EN

Iraq has had more than 10000 km2 of geographical low land areas called marshes.

Enriched with great diversity of natural vegetation and wild life.

With increasing climatic changes and passive man interference phenomena, vast areas of these marshes have deteriorated through drying out processes at an alarming rate.

According to recent survey achieved by several Iraqi ministries marshes areas have decreased to about quarter of this original area.

The statistical data and geospatial information are weak.

We monitored, assessed the environmental processes and detect changes using digitally processed land sat MSS (Multispectral Scanner) and Spot (System Pour Observation) satellite images that transform haur Ibn Najm (marsh) into agricultural land as result of desiccation processes.

Seasonal and long-term changes are detected.

Hydrological and terrain changes are studied .The methodology of using multitemporal , multispatial and multispectral images is currently being evaluated in this marsh ,by using land sat MSS data with (79x79m) spatial resolution and spot data with (10 x 10m) spatial resolution , acquired between 1985 and 2002 respectively.

The area of haur Ibn Najm has been calculated in both images before and after drying out processes according to GIS (Geographic information System) .Ground truth points have been plotted in the previous marsh or present cultivated land by GPS (Global Positioning System) to support the indisputable facts reached.