Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, Volume 9, January 2018, Pages 100-106
Khoboso E.Seutloali (a)Timothy Due (b) Mbulisi Sibanda(c)
(a) Department of Geography and Environmental Science, National University of Lesotho, P.O. Roma 180, Maseru, Lesotho
(b) Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
(c) Discipline of Geography, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa.
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Abstract
The remote sensing of soil erosion has gained substantial consideration, with considerable scientific research work having been conducted in the past, due to technological improvements that have resulted in the release of robust, cheap and high resolution datasets with a global foot-print. This paper reviews developments in the application of remote sensing technologies in sub-Saharan Africa with a explicit emphasis on soil erosion monitoring. Soil loss due to soil erosion by water has been identified by African geomorphologists, environmentalists and governments, as the primary threat to agriculture, biodiversity and food security across the continent. The article offers a detailed review of the progress in the remote sensing as it summarises research work that have been conducted, using various remote sensing sensors and platforms and further evaluates the significance of variations in sensor resolutions and data availability for sub-Saharan Africa. Explicit application examples are used to highlight and outline this progress. Although some progress has been made, this review has revealed the necessity for further remote sensing work to provide time-series soil erosion modelling and its implications on future food security and biodiversity in the face of changing climate and food insecurity. Overall, this review have shown the immediate need for a drastical move towards the use of new generation sensors with a plausible spatial, temporal characteristics and more importantly a global foot-print.