Soil and vegetation reflectances were measured with a Barringer Hand-held ratioing radiometer, and positions were determined using a Magellan satellite navigation station. Eroding and non-eroding areas were statistically compared with slope, soil type and proximity to active stream headcuts. ARC-INFO software was used for digitizing and georeferencing. Preliminary Results Based on available topographic information, eroded terrain is not strongly correlated with regional slope. Higher topographic resolution is needed to assess small-scale slope dependence.
Erosion is mainly in the form of gully development adjacent to intermittent streams.
These suggest that in semi-arid bushed savanna, gully development and soil erosion may be discriminated based on the spectral signature of the vegetation that colonizes such areas. Rapidly-eroding areas are not characterized by bare soil, as in many other arid terrains. Future investigations will concentrate on land use and erosion, and the implications for land management and conservation.