Assessing and mapping wind erosion-prone areas in northeastern Algeria using additive linear model, AHP, FAHP approaches, GIS, and medium resolution multisource remotely sensed data

Abstract Wind erosion is one of the most severe environmental problems in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions of the planet. This dissertation aimed to identify areas sensitive to wind erosion in northeastern Algeria (Wilaya of Tebessa) based on empirical model using analytic hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approaches, and geomatics-based techniques. Sixteen causative factors were used incorporating meteorological, soil erodibility, physical environment, and anthropogenic impacts as main available inputs in this approach. Weighted linear combination (WLC) algorithm was used to combine all standardized raster layers. Area under curve (AUC) value equal 0.96 indicate an excellent accuracy for the proposed approach. Globally, wind erosion risk increase gradually from the north to south of the whole area. Besides, it was found that areas with slight, moderate, high, and very high covered 9.65 %, 25.83 %, 24.30 %., and 40.22 %, respectively of the total. Our results highlighted the potential of additive linear model, and free available medium resolution multi-source remote sensing data in studying natural hazards and disasters mainly under data-scarce or areas of difficult access in developing countries. In addition, restoration and re-vegetation activities of sensitive areas at high risk of wind erosion represent a challenge for researchers and decision-makers.