Remote Sensing of African Mountains: Geospatial Tools Toward Sustainability

266 Pages·2022·11.229 MB·English

by  Samuel Adelabu, Abel Ramoelo, Adeyemi Olusola, Efosa Adagbasa

Samuel Adelabu · Abel Ramoelo ·
Adeyemi Olusola ·
Efosa Adagbasa   Editors
Remote
Sensing
of African
Mountains
Geospatial Tools Toward Sustainability
Remote Sensing of African Mountains
Samuel Adelabu • Abel Ramoelo
Adeyemi Olusola • Efosa Adagbasa
Editors
Remote Sensing of African
Mountains
Geospatial Tools Toward Sustainability
Editors
Samuel Adelabu Abel Ramoelo
Department of Geography Department of Geography Geoinformatics
University of the Free State and Meteorology
Bloemfontein Campus, South Africa University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Adeyemi Olusola
Department of Geography Efosa Adagbasa
University of the Free State Department of Geography
Bloemfontein Campus, South Africa University of the Free State
Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa
ISBN 978-3-031-04854-8 ISBN 978-3-031-04855-5 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04855-5
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Acknowledgment
Apart from the final review and other editorials as carried out by the editors, we
would like to thank and appreciate our reviewers who were involved in the blinded
review process. The reviewers listed below were constructive in their comments and
we would like to say unequivocally that these comments led to substantial improve-
ment in the quality of this book. Finally, we also thank our publisher and its publish-
ing editors for their continuous support in the publication of this book.
Reviewers
Name: Abraham R Matamanda
Department: Department of Geography
Institution: University of the Free State, South Africa
Specialization: Human settlement planning and climate change adaptation in cit-
ies of the Global South
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Rotimi Obateru
Department: Department of Geography and Planning Sciences
Institution: Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.
Area of specialization: Applied Geomorphology and Hydrology
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Jay le Roux
Department: Department of Geography
Institution: University of the Free State, South Africa
Area of specialization: soil erosion mapping and modelling.
Email address: [email protected]
Name: Simbarashe Jombo
Department: Department of Geography
Institution: University of the Free State, South Africa
Email address: [email protected]
v
vi Acknowledgment
Area of specialization: Remote sensing and GIS (LiDAR, hyperspectral and
multispectral data).
Name: Elizabeth M Rudolph
Department: Department of Geography
Institution: University of the Free State
Specialization: Geomorphology
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Dr. Philemon Tsele (PhD) Department: Department of Geography,
Geoinformatics and Meteorology
Institution: University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
Specialization: Geoinformatics
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Mbulisi Sibanda
Department: Department of Geography, Environmental Studies, and Tourism
Institution: University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Specialization: GIScience and Earth Observation scientist
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Toyin Fashae
Institution: University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Department: Geography
Specialization: Geomorphology, GIS and Remote Sensing
[email protected]
Name: Sifiso Xulu
Department: Geography
Institution: University of the Free State, QwaQwa Campus, South Africa
Specialization: Geospatial applications
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Kabir Peerbhay
Institution: Sappi Forests
Specialization: Spatial Technologies
Email Address: [email protected]
Name: Naledzani Ndou
Department: GIS and Remote Sensing
Institution: University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Specialization: Geo-information Systems
Email Address: [email protected]
Introduction
Montane environments are found in every continent on planet Earth. These areas are
important biologically, as clearly portrayed by the Conference of Parties to the
United Nations Conventions on Biological Diversity in 2004. The parties posited
that montane environments are about the most biologically diverse parts of the
Earth. A fact supported by the Conservation International by laying claim to the fact
that 25 of the 34 world centers of greatest biodiversity hot spots are wholly or partly
mountainous (see Price, 2013). These regions are of rugged terrain and have been
defined as areas with an elevation of about 300 m and above over a radius of about
7 km (Wohl, 2018). These regions cover not less than 12% of the earth’s surface and
among other things provide various functions such as historical, cultural, religious,
and environmental. Historically, these regions have been described as areas where
man started domesticating plants and animals. Also, across the world, mountain
ranges hold cultural eminence as places of tourist attractions, sports, and home to
indigenous people. Montane environments have been deified across ages and time
with various groups of people across the world objectifying mountains and worship-
ing them. In terms of environment, mountain regions serve as headwater catchment
for most of the large rivers of the world (Price et al., 2013). Furthermore, the range
of ecosystem services provided by the mountain ecosystem includes, but not limited
to, meat, milk, wool, leather, maintenance of atmospheric composition and genetic
library, amelioration of water, and conservation of soils (Kang et al., 2018), and it
also provides shelter to those living on and around mountain environments. It is a
space for social interactions that allow for human-environment interactions. This
human-environment interaction allows for the (re)production of goods and services.
Due to the physiographic makeup of montane regions, that is, altitude, terrain, soil,
and climate, montane environments are hotspots for biodiversity. The variety of
plants and animals found within these environments is to a large extent endemic
with great genetic diversity. Mountain biota (plants and animals) survive under the
environmental conditions of their habitat because of their adaptability, which allows
them to establish themselves and reproduce. It is precisely this ability to adapt to the
specific characteristics of a given microsite, which has shaped one of the theories, is
what partly explains the endemism found in the mountains through speciation.
vii
viii Introduction
From the foregoing, it is clear that montane regions or ecosystems are unique
(Semala et al., 2022). Globally, there has been an increase in environmental aware-
ness of various environmental issues. However, within the montane setting, environ-
mental issues such as changing climate, habitat loss and fragmentation, population
growth, agricultural activities, and natural hazards are burning issues (Atkinson and
De Clercq, 2022; Das and Zhang, 2022, Onaolapo et al., 2022; Luliro et al., 2022).
Although these issues are also peculiar to lowland environments, however, because
of the physiography of montane environments and the highly sensitive nature of its
ecosystems, changes or perturbations create almost irreversible reactions. The
changing climate affects snow caps and glaciers on mountain tops by melting these
age-long ice caps due to global warming (Boudhar et al., 2022). Also, the slower
pace of recovery of natural regenerative processes, owing to colder temperatures,
greatly increases potential for erosion, owing to steeper gradients and generally less
fertile soil endangers this environment and soil fertility (Adagbasa et al., 2022;
Nyawacha and Meta, 2022; Harrison and van Tol, 2022; Luliro et al., 2022).
Furthermore, the changing climate is altering habitat makeup of various plants and
animals, leading to migration of animals and extinction of some plants, which is a
great challenge to the genetic pool of the region (Adagbasa et al., 2022). Besides,
changing climate coupled with fires and other anthropogenic activities like over-
cultivation is leading to loss of carbon stocks in biomass of montane vegetation
(Dipuo et al., 2022; Adagbasa et al., 2022; Onaolapo et al., 2022). These issues and
many more impact on the livelihoods of mountain people. To the indigenous peo-
ples and those whose livelihoods depend on the ecology of the mountains most
often than not see this physical entity, mountain, not just as a natural resource but
also as part of their existence (Sharma et al., 2019). To those living within and
beyond, they understand that their well-being, to some extent their identity, espe-
cially for those living there, depends on careful stewardship of the montane ecosys-
tems (Wang et al., 2019). However, in the light of the changing climate and its direct
and indirect consequences, new and emerging socio-economic patterns within and
around mountain environments are developing which not only affect those living
within and around the mountain but also those whose livelihoods depend on the
montane ecosystems. Addressing these issues requires careful planning and the
need to understand various aspects of montane environments. As against lowland
areas where intensive field studies can be carried out, montane areas due to their
physiography and location limit the number of field studies that could be carried
out. Some mountains are so remote that to understand the dynamics of such envi-
ronments requires remote sensing through the use of satellites or unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) (Semala et al., 2022). Remote sensing, in contrast with traditional
approaches, such as field studies, offers spatial and temporal data that are conve-
nient for mapping large areas at different spatial scales in a more vigorous, rapid,
and efficient manner (Fajji, 2015). Globally, we know more about mountain ranges
in Asia, North and South America, and Europe than the ones in Africa. Several stud-
ies and documentaries abound for the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, etc. (see Smethurst,
2000; Funnell and Price, 2003; Wester et al., 2019). Studies for these ranges
increased in light of the changing climates and global warming. Some of these stud-
ies focused on sea-level rise, melting ice caps, coastal cities in the global north, and
Introduction ix
changing lifestyle for those living around these ranges (Anderson et al., 2020;
Jorgenson and Ely, 2001; Wang et al., 2020). However, in Africa, besides the East-
African Range (such as Kilimanjaro, Rwenzori), part of the Drakensberg and part of
the high Atlas in North Africa (Smethurst, 2000; Thompson et al., 2002; Kaser
et al., 2004; Jacobs et al., 2016; Teixell et al., 2003; Sebrier et al., 2006; Büscher,
2012), little is known about other montane environments. As portrayed by Smethurst
(2000), little or nothing is known about the mountains in Madagascar, Cape Verde,
and other countries. Furthermore, despite the array of information available for
some mountain ranges in different parts of the world, global assessments such as the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment provide detailed information as regards mountain environments with
respect to scientific and traditional indigenous knowledge (Wester et al., 2019).
Besides, only four journals deal with mountain environments globally (the Journal
on Protected Mountain Areas Research, Sustainable Development of Mountain
Territories, Mountain Research and Development, and the Journal of Mountain
Science). Therefore, this book will open up closed mountain areas of Africa and
present new and emerging studies within and around known and unknown mountain
ranges in Africa using remote sensing techniques. This will push further the frontier
of knowledge in mountain studies and help shape further global assessments and
policies. The 11 chapters presented in this book fall within the following thematic
areas. These are:
1. Satellite Remote Sensing and Montane Vegetation
2. Satellite Remote Sensing and Mountain Hazards
3. Satellite Remote Sensing and Mountain Ecosystem Services
4. Satellite Remote Sensing of Mountain Geological and Geomorphic Surfaces
5. Satellite Remote Sensing and Mountain Energy Balance Modelling
The findings presented in this book will drive global policies and help strengthen
these fragile ecosystems in Africa. With the impact of climate change already seen
in various parts of the continent and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, this book will
help understand the role climate change is playing within mountain systems and the
impact on those depending on them for their livelihoods either directly or indirectly.
Lastly, even though the studies covered in the book cannot touch every aspect of
mountain systems, it is expected that enough would have been presented in the book
to help drive policies and establish montane research units across the continent.
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