Geomorphological Mapping of Razzaza–Habbaria Area using Remote Sensing Techniques

Landforms on the earth surface are so expensive to map or monitor. Remote Sensing observations from space platforms provide a synoptic view of terrain on images. Satellite multispectral data have an advantage in that the image data in various bands can be subjected to digital enhancement techniques for highlighting contrasts in objects for improving image interpretability. Geomorphological mapping involves the partitioning of the terrain into conceptual spatial entities based upon criteria. This paper illustrates how geomorphometry and mapping approaches can be used to produce geomorphological information related to the land surface, landforms and geomorphic systems. Remote Sensing application at Razzaza–Habbaria area southwest of Razzaza Lake shows the different geomorphologic units and the land use maps that were delineated from Landsat ETM+ Image. Digital Image unsupervised classification was adopted to delineate the different classes by applying ERDAS 8.4 software. According to this classification five classes were selected and delineated in different colors.


Introduction:
Geomorphometry is the science of the quantification and analysis of the land surface. It is fundamental to quantitative geomorphology, and is considered a discipline. Various aspects of specific and general geomorphometry have been presented. In general, geomorphometry addresses issues of: 1) sampling attributes of land surfaces; 2) geodesy, digital terrain modeling and the generation of DEMs; 3) DEM error assessment and preprocessing; 4) generation of landsurface parameters, indices, and objects; and 5) geomorphic information production and problemsolving using parameters and objects. Each aspect of geomorphometry represents a research subdiscipline and contributes significantly towards the development of software tools and geospatial technology [1]. The discipline of geomorphology is rich in theory and concepts related to time, processes, systems, and landforms. In other words, the ability to predict the spatial entities resulting from forcing factors, processes and polygenetic evolution is essential. Today, all lands use planning processes in most of the

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countries are based on geomorphologic units. Geomorphologic units are dynamic in nature as they are affected by various human activities, including the expansion of cultivated and irrigated lands, industrialization, urbanization and others because it need to monitoring, mapping for land use planning. Geomorphic units are classified on the basis of differential erosion processes [2]. The landscape that surrounds us is essential to our life and activity and thus understanding of its characteristics and processes is important for sustainable development [3]. Formed through long ages by changing climatic conditions, topography and materials, the landscape is complex and includes both resources and hazards to our society. The geomorphologic maps represent the surface, nature and properties of the surface materials and indicate the kind and magnitude of the processes involved. The Razzaza -Habbaria area is chosen, it is located to the west of Razzaza Lake in Karbala Governorate. This region is characterized by a continental climate is hot, dry summers, cool wet winters, and the wind prevail northwestern direction [3]. The generally dry and warm to hot climate dominating most of Iraq have had its influence on the type of Quaternary sediments and soil developed, being generally immature, without profile zonnation, generally with minor mineralogical and chemical alterations compared to source rocks. The main changes have been size degradation of these rocks to gravel, sand, silt and mud by erosional factors and mechanical transportation, rather than by chemical weathering processes [3]. The soils of the Razzaza -Habbaria area in the wadi beds contain surrounded, pink and white colored cobbles and pebbles of limestone and siliceous rocks, mixed with brownish calcareous sand, silt and clay. The areas in between the wadis have a shal1ow or very shallow soil layer, often mixed with or covered by cobbles and pebbles with a dark brown to blackish desert varnish. In shallow depressions such as in Habbaria area, the soils are heavier textured mud, showing typical cracks in the dry summer; sometimes more sandy and silty soils occur. There are gravel crusts, cemented by calcium carbonate. Water erosion, particularly sheet erosion, has transported much material. Aeolian deposits are not extensive in this desert, although in and near some wadis, mixtures of finer grained quartz and somewhat coarser grained limestone and dolomite are occurred.
Locally there are small sand dune areas. The soils of the extensive stony areas are called Hamada Soils [4]. The study area is located between latitudes (32 ' 00 '' -33 ' 00'') to the north and longitude (43 ' 00 '' -44 ' 00 '' ) to the east ( Figure 1). Razzaza -Habbaria area is covered by recent sediments and sedimentary rocks. The geological formations outcrops have a large extension ranging in age from Miocene (Fatha Fm.) to Quaternary sediments. The common rocks are limestone and clastics with the presence of gypsum rocks [3,4]. These formations from the oldest to the recent are as follows: - Tayarat

Materials and Methods:
Geomorphologic maps have been prepared by digital image classification techniques using enhanced satellite data. Band combination of red, blue and green was used to display the raw images in standard color composites. The spectral band combination for displaying images often varies with different applications. This was necessary for the visual interpretation of the images. A band combination of red, blue and green (RGB) is often used to display images in standard color composites for land use and vegetation mapping. In this study, the images were displayed in a band combination of 4, 3 and 2 is a standard for visual interpretation of vegetation mapping [5][6][7][8][9]. The most significant contribution of remote sensing to geomorphology is the use of passive and active sensors to generate surface elevation data commonly referred to as a DEM. A variety of techniques can be utilized for digital terrain modeling including image photogrammetry, radar or laser altimetry, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar. Photogrammetric applications of satellite imagery including SPOT and ASTER data are commonly used by scientists. In the case of SPOT imagery, alternate view perspectives from multiple satellite passes enable stereoscopic representations, whereas the ASTER system relies upon forward-and backlooking telescopes to characterize topography through a merged characterization.
Similarly, radar imagery and specifically SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topographic Mapping Mission) data are widely used for mapping, as depicted in (Figure 2). The SRTM and ASTER mission objectives were specifically designed to produce a global DEM data product to facilitate Earth science mapping projects. These DEMs have resulted in many new developments and the ability to automate landform mapping based upon the use of geomorphometric parameters/indices. More recently, airborne high resolution, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems and terrestrial laser scanning systems can generate millions of 3-D point measurements [1, 4, 5, 6,7 and 10].

Results and Discussion:
Satellite remote sensing collects multispectral, multiresolution and multitemporal data, and turns them into information valuable for understanding, monitoring land processes and land cover datasets. Remote Sensing application at Razzaza-Habbaria area southwest of Razzaza Lake ( Figure 3 and Table 1) shows the different geomorphologic units maps (Figure 3-B) that were delineated from Landsat ETM+ Image ( Figure 3-A), for Razzaza -Habbaria area on the south western side of Razzaza Lake. Digital Image classification for wadi Habbaria flood plain area (Faidat) was studied. As known there are two methods of digital image classification, supervised, and unsupervised classifications, the most suitable classifications which carried out in wadi Habbaria flood plain area (Faidat) is the unsupervised classification to delineate the different classes by applying ERDAS 8.4 software. ISODATA (Iterative Self Organizing Data Analysis Technique) was applied to classify the Landsat image. According to this classification five classes were selected and delineated in different colors ( Figure  4). Brownish color, represent the higher topographical situated parts, mainly composed of desert sand and line gravels mixed with gypsiferous soil in small patches . Yellowish color, represent the most eroded area in the steep slope parts affected by showers of rainfall water, there are coarse deposited materials of pebbles and gravels in the flat regions and these regions are more permeable for the limited showers of rainfall. Reddish color, this class represents the course soil material mixed with small rock eroded deposits (rock cuttings or breccias) and pebbles with natural vegetation after rainy season from geomorphological point of view called valley filling deposits. 1-Blush color, this class area composed of medium to fine soil materials (with silty clay loam and sandy clay loam texture) this area is the most cultivated with wheat and barley.

2-
Greenish color, this class mostly with fine soil texture (silty clay and clay loam ) with more moist to wet soil (depressions deposits) Finally, the Landsat Image shown in The water erosion considered to be of importance in the area, such as the Sheet Erosion that affected the soil surface and covered the plateaus in the area, while the Rill Erosion is considered very active in all parts of the study area, depends on the rock hardness.
However, all the sedimentological processes play a great role in the area, such as the weathering, transportation and deposition processes, therefore many erosional features may recognized with the area, such as the Erosional plains with rock fragment within its sediments, with some geomorphologic features such as Mesa and Butt. -Pediment, that exists in area restricted between the mountainous regions, river valley and the plains with low slope of 1 to 7 degrees with general slope not more than 2.5 degrees, the pediments recognized within the northern and western parts of the study area -Hamad which is those area with out sand and distributed on vast areas, recognized on the eastern part of Habbaria area. -Sareer which is desert plain composed of gravels and rock fragment that affected by the deflation processes which recognized to the east of Habbaria composed of chert and other silicate minerals. There are also the depositional geomorphology features such as Flood Plains, River Terraces, Alluvial Fans or Bajadas and Valley Deposits. Moreover, the Karistified features such as sinkholes (Dolin, solution sinks and collapse sinks) some of the collapse sinkholes may joint each other to form gradational large sinks called (Uvula) that range in depth from 3-70m, as shown in the Geomorphologic maps for the study area of Razzaza -Habbaria that were constructed from the different satellite images (Figures 6  -14). The results of the mapping are summarized in a generalized manner as quantitative data are tabulated in Table  1. Results at the reconnaissance level quantitatively describe the geographic distribution of major landforms and dominant land cover as indicated in Figure 3-A and B.  (Figure 3-B) obtained from Satellite Image (Figure 3-A)

Conclusions:
Geomorphologic maps are needed at a variety of scales due to the surface materials, topography constrain, numerous chemical, biological, meteorological and lithospheric processes.
Numerous multi-scale topographic effects influence forcing factors and environmental change. Consequently, geomorphologic maps are essential for assessing and managing natural resources and promoting sustainability. Given this objective, numerous advancements in geospatial technologies have occurred. Standard location information and land-surface measurement technologies permit a wealth of information to be generated regarding the spatiotemporal nature of planetary surfaces. Access to information has increased dramatically, greatly facilitating analysis and mapping efforts. Cartography is experiencing an important change with the introduction of computer systems and digital images (GIS, satellite images). In particular in Earth Sciences, Geomorphologic mapping begins to benefit from the digitalization of information.
Identification of landforms using key interpretation features such as image tone, texture, association and terrain shadow was demonstrated.