1) Dr. Amir Mor-Mussery

Ravines in arid regions are impacted by diverse soil erosion processes due to varying rainfall regimes, flooding patterns, and anthropogenic intervention. This study aimed to: [1] Model the effects of erosion of land segments in and around a ravine on vegetation, using high-resolution spatial imaging; and [2] Propose analysis schemes for suitable land management practices. The study was conducted at the Migda Ravine, Northern Negev, Israel. Due to the loessial soil and arid conditions, the area suffers from soil erosion and land incision. Eight Areas of Interest (AOI) containing 69 plots affected by different erosion processes were identified. PlanetScope® satellite images were acquired for the periods between November and August in each year, 2017-2024. The plot pixel values were used to calculate the NDVI median and quartile range, representing the limits between the 1st and 2nd quartiles, and between the 3rd and 4th. The median or quartile range values per plot were normalized, using the reference plot one, resulting in the plot Normalized Fresh Vegetation Reflectance (NFVR) value. Our findings reveal that erosional processes dramatically affected the NFVR in 2019, with milder effects in 2020. Post-erosion, NFVR increased in some units, while in others, like the undersurface erosion plot, it showed continued NFVR decline. Using high-resolution satellite imagery to analyze the vegetation change patterns in the ravine land units, we identified the most suitable utilization for each and those most vulnerable to further erosion.