Soil Organic Carbon Modeling and Mapping in a Semi-Arid Environment Using Thematic Mapper Data

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using Thematic Mapper (TM) data for estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) content in the Zarqa Basin in Jordan, a typical semi-arid environment, under natural surface conditions by testing a variety of statistical modeling techniques. This evaluation is essential for implementing carbon crediting programs for ameliorating the effects of global warming. Although none of the developed models was powerful in predicting SOC, a stepwise regression model was selected since it provided the lowest validation root mean square error (RMSE) of 10.4 metric tons per hectare (ton/ha). Using this model, a SOC map for the basin was constructed by applying map algebra. The total SOC content to 0.2 m depth of the basin was calculated to be 9,423,986.4 metric tons with SOC density of 26.3 ton/ha. This study suggested that, in semi-arid environments and using the statistical modeling techniques that were tested, TM-based SOC models cannot be used for implementing carbon crediting programs; however they can estimate total surface SOC pools in large areas to with a few percent error.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00991112
• Authors:
  • Jaber, Salahuddin M
  • Al-Qinna, Mohammed I
• Publication Date: 2011-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 709-719
• Serial:
  • Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
  • Volume: 77
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
  • ISSN: 0099-1112

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon; Environmental protection; Geotechnical engineering; Global warming; Mapping; Soil mapping; Statistical analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Thematic mapper imagery
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; I15: Environment; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01350426
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 24 2011 11:38AM