Dr. Khalid M. Al-Rehali Al-Harbi

Vol (5), No. (1), 1433 / 2012

p.p. 48 – 64

Abstract:

This paper discusses the application of remote sensing digital data for detecting vegetation change in Tabuk area, Saudi Arabia. It focuses on utilizing infrared color composite technique to display vegetation sites and using spectral reflectance analysis to show the trend of vegetation change over 13-year period of time in the study area.

The Ratio Vegetation index (RVI) was intensively examined in this study to determine vegetation differences and showed that the area has experienced a type of deterioration.

On the other hand, the increase of rainfall values has directly changed the RVI values due to the increase of vegetation cover in the field sites.

The paper demonstrates that RVI equation is a useful technique for detecting and monitoring vegetation change in arid environments, and can be utilized in many geographic studies in Saudi Arabia.

 Key words: Remote sensing – Arid environment – RVI- Tabuk Area – Desertification

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Associate Professor of Geography, Department of Social Studies, Makkah Teachers College P.O.Box 8107, Email: Alharbik2001@yahoo.com