Application of RS in the Yellow River Basin in Inner Mongolia soil erosion survey

Soil erosion is the major bind degradation process in arid and semi-arid regions. In order to prevent further deterioration of soil erosion and agriculture development in a sustainable way, up-to-date and reliable information on the nature, extent, magnitude and spatial distribution of these soils is of paramount importance. This study was carried out to extract such information using Landsat TM data. Satellite remote sensing has become one of the important tools to survey soil erosion. Taking the Yellow River basin in Inner Mongolia as an example, depending on remote sensing images and other data, utilizing GIS software contained ARC/INFO and RS software ERDAS, after disposition, transition of pattern and query, interpretation, the study achieve the soil erosion data of the area. The result shows that in Yellow river basin in Inner Mongolia the water and wind erosion are serious. Contrasting with the data of 1990 year This work analyzed the variation of soil erosion. During the ten years the erosion area declined. However, both soil erosion control and destruction exist currently. Soil erosion concentrates in hilly and gully area and shifting sand area. These areas are priority research areas for water and soil conservation. Constructing protective-forest and returning land from farming to forest and grass are the key measures to prevent soil erosion.