MONITORING DESERTIFICATION IN SOME REGIONS OF IRAQ USING GIS TECHNIQUES

Desertification is one of the phenomena that threatening environmental, economic, and social systems. This study aims to evaluate monitor desertification in central parts Iraq between Tigris Euphrates rivers through use remote sensing techniques geographic information The Normalized difference vegetation index NDVI crust CI were used, which applied two Landsat ETM + OLI satellite imagery during years 1990 2019. research results showed total area ​​the cover was 2620 km2 1990, while there a marked decrease Vegetation 764 2019, accounting for 34.8% (medium desertification) 10.2% (high desertification), respectively. Also, sand dunes occupied an ​​767 ​​sand increased 1723 with rate 10.2%) medium (and 22.9% (severe It noted overall 21.33 km2year-1 increase ground erosion 10.99 km2year-1.