Geography and Natural Resources

THE EFFECT OF WIND EROSION  ON THE DESERTIFICATION PROCESS IN THE ABSHERON PENINSULA  

G.A. Hasanova

Institute of Geography named after academician H.A. Aliyev, Ministry of Science and Education. Baku, Azerbaijan

[email protected]

DOI: 10.59423/gnr.2025.18.78.007

Abstract

Climate change, land cover degradation, anthropogenic impacts, and the improper management of agricultural lands contribute to the intensification of wind erosion. This process is particularly dangerous for the Absheron Peninsula, which is located within the semi-arid dry steppe climate zone. Wind erosion leads to the loss of the fertile soil layer, degradation of vegetation cover, disruption of the water balance, and consequently, a decline in agricultural productivity, which in turn results in serious economic and ecological consequences. Therefore, the study of the causes, scale, and mitigation measures of wind erosion constitutes one of the main directions in combating desertification. For this purpose, the NDMI (Normalized Difference Moisture Index) map was generated using 2024 Landsat 8–9 OLI/TIRS C2 L2 multispectral imagery. Additionally, based on 2015 and 2023 Landsat 8–9 OLI/TIRS C2 L2 multispectral images, “Land Cover and Land Use” maps were created, along with a map of the average wind speed in the Absheron peninsula. As a result, the number of windy days, wind speed, soil granulometric composition, and soil moisture were determined; the areas with different land cover types were calculated; the regions with intense wind erosion were identified; and the development of the desertification process was assessed.

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Accepted for publication: June 10, 2025

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G.A. Hasanova – The effect of wind erosion on the desertification process in the Absheron peninsula. Geography and Natural Resources, №1 (23), 2025, pp. 47-52.