The Relationship between Landforms and Vegetation Cover between 1984 to 2018, case study: Al-Balqa Governorate, Jordan

Yusra A. Al-husban; Hind K. Sarayrah

doi:10.35516/hum.v52i6.6721

Authors

Yusra A. Al-husban Department of geography, School of Arts ,The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3522-5149
Hind K. Sarayrah Department of geography, School of Arts ,The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9424-4943

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v52i6.6721

Keywords:

Landform Classification, Topographic Position Index, NDVI, Correlation Coefficients, Geographical Weighted Regression.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to determine the relationship between landforms and vegetation cover in Al-Balqa Governorate during the period from 1984 to 2018.

Methods: Landforms were classified according to the Topographic Position Index (TPI) based on a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The classification included ten different categories of landforms. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to classify vegetation cover.

Results: Local landforms such as moderate slopes, hills, and high mountains exhibited high NDVI values compared to other landforms. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between NDVI and landforms, ranging from (r=0.73) to (r=0.54). A high coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.909 was obtained for predicting high NDVI values and classifying landforms and NDVI in 1984. In contrast, in 2018, high NDVI values were concentrated in open slopes, plains, valleys, hills, and water networks, due to urban expansion from 11.3 square kilometers (1.01%) to 104.09 square kilometers (9.29%) toward hills and high mountains.

Conclusions: The study concluded that there is a strong relationship between high NDVI values and elevated landforms, particularly mountains and steep slopes.

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