Assessing and mapping wind erosion-prone areas in Northeastern Algeria using additive linear model, fuzzy logic, multicriteria, GIS, and remote sensing

Wind erosion is one of the most severe environmental problems in arid, semiarid, and dry sub-humid regions of the planet. This paper aimed to identify areas sensitive to wind erosion in Northeastern Algeria (Wilaya of Tebessa) based on empirical model using analytic hierarchy process, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approaches, and geomatics-based techniques. Sixteen causative factors were used incorporating meteorological, soil erodibility, physical environment, and anthropogenic impacts as main available inputs in this approach. Weighted linear combination algorithm was adopted to combine all standardized raster layers. Area under curve value equal to 0.96 indicates an excellent accuracy for the proposed approach. Globally, wind erosion risk increases gradually from the North to South of the whole area. Besides, it was found that areas with slight, moderate, high, and very high risk covered 9.65%, 25.83%, 24.30%, and 40.22% of the total area, respectively. Our results highlighted the potential of additive linear model and free available medium resolution multi-source remote sensing data in studying natural hazards and disasters mainly under data-scarce or areas of difficult access in developing countries. In addition, restoration and re-vegetation activities of sensitive areas at high risk of wind erosion represent a challenge for researchers and decision-makers.

Automated summary

This study identified areas sensitive to wind erosion in Northeastern Algeria using an empirical model, analytic hierarchy process, and geomatics-based techniques. The results showed that wind erosion risk increases gradually from the North to South of the whole area.