Author(s): Sumayyah Aimi Mohd Najib, Zullyadini A. Rahaman
Linked Author(s): Sumayyah Aimi Mohd Najib
Keywords: Soil erosion, land use, changing landscape, Pulau Pinang.
Abstract: Landscape change as the alteration of land use considerably affects the environment and its processes. Land use has changed significantly in the last century, mostly due to human activities. Soil erosion as one of these processes is particularly affected by changes in land use. As soil erosion depends on surface runoff, which is regulated by the structure of land use, the effects of changes in slope length due to landscape change on erosion displacement can be significant. Pulau Pinang which has limited sources of land, has been undergoing a rapid land use changes through agriculture, settlement, and urbanisation and many other human activities. This study utilizes GIS software and topographic maps to examine the changes that occur in the Barat Daya Pulau Pinang during the time points of 1974, 1984, 2004 and 2012. Landscape metrics analysis is used to investigate which land uses are dominant and the spreading of the land uses affecting soil erosion. The Universal Soil Loss Equation is used to estimate past soil erosion. The results from Shannon Diversity index show that there is a significant relation between land use changes and Soil loss data with R2=0. 92. This study concludes that soil erosion is reflected by changes in land use
Year: 2017