Remote sensing of sediment transfer processes in playa basins

Summary Landsat Thematic Mapper and Multispectral Scanner data have been used to detect changes in the spectral reflectance and absorption of three playas in south-central Tunisia. Change detection images have been used to analyse changes between wet and dry seasons and between different years. Changes in geomorphological phenomena are interpreted from changes in soil and foliar moisture levels, differences in reflectance between different salts and sediments, and the spatial expression of geomorphological features. The intra-annual changes that can be detected from multidate imagery include surface moisture, texture and chemical composition, vegetation cover and the extent of aeolian activity. Detected inter-annual changes are divisible into those restricted to playa margins—sedimentation from sheetwash and alluvial fans, erosion from surface runoff, and cliff retreat—and those found at central playa locations which are related to the redistribution of water, salt and sediment.

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