Hydrological Indicators Analysis of Al-Hammar Marsh Using Satellite Data (Sentinel-2)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31185/bsj.Vol21.Iss36.1505Keywords:
Hawr Al-Hammar, Remote Sensing, Spectral Indices, Hydrological Changes, WaterAbstract
This study aims to analyze hydrological changes in Hawr Al-Hammar using Sentinel-2 satellite data in order to identify fluctuations in inundated areas and changes in their environmental characteristics, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of hydrological indices in distinguishing water bodies from wet soils and vegetation cover. The research problem arises from the exposure of Hawr Al-Hammar to hydrological fluctuations driven by climate change and reduced water releases, which have led to variations in inundated areas, in addition to the limited utilization of modern remote sensing data in analyzing these changes. The study employed a set of spectral indices, including NDWI and MNDWI for mapping water bodies, NDMI for assessing surface moisture conditions, NDVI for analyzing vegetation and water-related cover, as well as NDTI and NDCI for estimating water turbidity and algal activity. The analysis was based on quantitative assessment and spatial mapping for the period 2017–2025. The results indicate a relative decline in open water extent and surface moisture, accompanied by a reduction in vegetation cover and qualitative changes in water properties, suggesting a general trend toward environmental and hydrological imbalance in Hawr Al-Hammar.
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