Analysis and Evaluation of soil erosion risk in the Oltu River Basin (Erzurum-Artvin, Turkey) using the ICONA model, GIS, and Remote Sensing techniques

This study aims to determine and analyze erosion susceptibility levels in the Oltu Stream Basin, a sub-basin of the & Ccedil;oruh Basin, which is among the regions in Turkey experiencing severe soil loss. For this purpose, data for the four fundamental parameters of the ICONA model-lithology, slope, land use, and vegetation cover density-were generated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques. These datasets were overlaid based on the model's integration criteria to produce soil erodibility and soil protection layers. Subsequently, these two layers were combined through a matrix to assess the erosion risk status of the Oltu Stream Basin.Erosion risk in the Oltu Stream Basin exhibits significant spatial variation. Half of the basin (46.05%) falls into the low and very low risk categories, characterized by gentle slopes, resistant lithological structures, and dense vegetation cover. In contrast, high (24.42%) and very high (18.96%) risk areas are predominantly concentrated on steep slopes with sparse vegetation. Although moderate-risk zones (10.57%) cover a relatively small portion, they require close monitoring. This distribution clearly highlights the need for risk-based, site-specific planning and management strategies within the basin.

Journal

GEOMATIK

Year

2026

Volume

11

Issue

1

Pages

70-87

eISSN

2564-6761

DOI

10.29128/geomatik.1746355

WoS UID

WOS:001668997600006