Raneem Shaddod*1 , Wafaa Ghandor1 and Mona Barakat2
1 Department of Botany, Faculty of science, Latakia University, Latakia, Syria.
2 Department of Soil and Water science. Faculty of Agriculture, Latakia University, Latakia, Syria
(*Corresponding author: Raneem Shaddod, Email: raneem.shaddod@latakia-univ.edu.sy).
Received: 27/01 /2026 Accepted: 6/04 / 2026
Abstract:
This research aims to analyze the changes in the distribution of erosion risk within the Baloran Dam Basin area using the CORINE model during the period from 2015 to 2025. The study was conducted in the Baloran Dam Basin area, where a map illustrating the spatial distribution of erosion and its risk levels was prepared and classified based on the CORINE model. The soil erodibility factor was calculated by assessing soil properties in terms of texture, depth, and percentage of gravel cover. These properties were classified according to their impact on soil erosion, and the necessary maps were prepared accordingly. On the other hand, the rainfall factor was calculated, and a slope map of the study area was prepared and classified according to its effect on soil erosion. Additionally, a potential erosion risk map was created using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques. A land cover map for the study site for the years 2015 and 2025 was prepared and classified into two classes based on the level of protection they provide to the soil. Subsequently, an actual erosion risk map for the years 2015 and 2025 was prepared. The study results showed that areas with high erosion risk were concentrated in the western and southern parts of the studied sites. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the vegetation cover’s ability to reduce the area exposed to severe erosion risk in 2025 compared to 2015. The reduction rate in 2015 was about 16.22%, while in 2025 it was 9.95%, indicating severe degradation of the vegetation cover.
Keywords: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) , Water Erosion of Soil , Potential Erosion Risk, CORINE Model , Baloran Dam , Latakia ,Syria.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF