Geomorphological study of Haur Al-Hammar and adjacent area southern Iraq using remote sensing data and GIS techniques

Other Title(s)

دراسة جيومورفولوجية لهور الحمار و المنطقة المجاورة-جنوب العراق باستخدام تقنيات التحسس النائي و نظم المعلومات الجغرافية

Dissertant

al-Hmidawi, Hamid Dushan Hani

Thesis advisor

Salih, Salah Abd al-Hamid
Zwain, Jawad Ali

Comitee Members

Majid, Balsam S.
Abbas, Qasim M.
Ahmad, Walid Abd al-Majid
Ali, Salih M.
Zabun, Abd al-Razzaq Tarish

University

University of Baghdad

Faculty

College of Science

Department

Geology Department

University Country

Iraq

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Date

2008

English Abstract

Due to the economical and environmental importance of the area and also because of the changes in the region due to human and natural condition effect, this study aims at monitoring the change detection of land cover due to desiccation of marshes and performing geomorphologic study of Haur al-Hammar area.

The studied area outreaches between longitude (46º 34´ , 47º 41´) E and latitude (31º 00´ , 30º 07´ ) N, covered about (11148 km²).

Remote sensing data MSS and ETM+ sensors in addition to a DEM image with topographic, geologic, and structural maps likewise ground truth data were used to perform geomorphologic study.

GPS device has been utilized to determine the locations and also to reach the land targets.

Radiometer instrument with four filters is used to measure the spectral reflectance of the field’s land targets more user a digital camera types has been used with a number of specialized software to correct and enhance the remote sensing data, drawing, and producing different maps and figures in addition to performing some of analysis.

The Satellite images was corrected geometrically and radiometrically by using several techniques in order to ease visibly images interpretation which allow to perform the measurement, required for study purpose.

The change detection was monitored through six essential classes, water, vegetation, sabkha, gravely sand, sand sheet, and salina of landcover during the period (1973-2003).

These classes have been separated according to differences in spectral reflectance signatures, using a number of techniques.

The spectral reflectances of eighteen essential land targets are measured at field.

Nine groups of geomorphologic units has been determined and classified based on their nature; i.e.

aeolian origin, unit of evaporitic origin, unit of solutional origin, unit of marine origin, unit of fluvio-lacustrine origin, unit of structural-denudational origin, unit of ii structural origin, unit of fluvial origin, and unit of organic origin.

A geomorphologic map is drawn showing the distribution of these main groups.

The faint small scale features are illustrated by photograph pictures.

The results of digital image processing are used separate the landcover and land-use units and to define the essential geomorphologic units.

The classification techniques gave the best results of monitor change detection, while the results of subtraction operator were poor in comparison with other results.

The spectral reflectance value of the targets depend on components nature of those targets.

Therefore the identification between targets have been done according to their spectral reflectance.

Generally there is inverse relationship between moisture content and spectral reflectance and proportional relation between the softness and sleekness from side and reflectance from another side.

Those relationships have helped to distinguish between different land targets.

Slope map showed that the general direction of slope was southwest-northeast.

Slope angles are ranging between (0° to 1.3366°).

Most parts of the area have slight slope except at the higher limbs of Jabal Sanam where the slope angle reach about eight degrees.

The topographic profiles which were drawn across contour map showed the elevation of Mesopotamian plain about (7m.) above see level as set up depression in the site Haur al-Hammar and showed the al-Batin alluvial fan consist of three sand terraces.

The elevation of first, second, and third terrace are about (33m.), (74m.), and (81m.) respectively.

Dominance of the sedimentary factor and the low slope values on drainage pattern were clear and represented by dendritic pattern.

Main Subjects

Earth Sciences, Water and Environment

No. of Pages

170

Table of Contents

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Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-609190