## 3 Data and Methodology  
The current study employs a 12.5 m spatial resolution digital elevation model (DEM), derived from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) PALSAR data, accessed through the Alaska Satellite Facility. The DEM provides the critical topographic detail necessary for deriving morphometric properties and evaluating terrain structure. Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), ALOS PALSAR's L-band radar data offer reliable elevation information, capable of penetrating vegetation cover to reveal surface features even in rugged or densely vegetated areas. This dataset enabled the precise calculation of geomorphological characteristics like slope, aspect, and watershed boundaries, all of which are key to identifying soil erosion potential in the Wadi Haly catchment. In addition, we integrated topographic maps from the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), specifically sheets 70C, 75C, 74C, and 94C, to support and enhance the DEM-derived drainage networks and watershed boundaries. These SGS topographic sheets offer detailed cartographic information, including contour lines and drainage features, which provide essential ground-level validation for DEM analysis. By combining these data sources, we achieved a refined and detailed spatial analysis of areas susceptible to erosion, as well as an in-depth understanding of watershed characteristics within the Wadi Haly catchment along Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Coast. Using topographic maps and a digital elevation model (DEM), we conducted an analysis of the catchment area that focused on sub-catchment boundaries and drainage networks. The DEM was key for calculating the geomorphological parameters, delineating smaller catchment areas, filling any depressions, and determining flow direction and accumulation. This combination of data helped map the stream networks within the catchment, offering essential insights for identifying areas most susceptible to soil erosion. Such wide knowledge makes it possible to develop targeted soil erosion management plans that satisfy the urgent needs of different terrains, allowing conservation actions to be directed accurately where they are most required [3; 15; 24; 29; 40] (Figure 4). Each single sub-catchment underwent a morphometric investigation, which  
Figure 3: General geomorphological features of the Wadi Haly catchment include: (**a**) a digital elevation model (DEM) map with a 30 m spatial resolution from SRTM; (**b**) a slope map; (**c**) an aspect map; and (**d**) a contour map indicating constant elevations. examined the basic, areal, relief, and linear features. A priority rank assessment was given to each of these morphometric factors based on how relevant they were to the soil erosion processes. Compound parameter (CP) was assigned for every single sub-catchment to effectively help in conservation planning. The values of the sub-catchments served as a foundation for ranking interventions based on the importance of agriculture, land use priorities, and the level of soil erosion risk. A strategy for managing soil erosion and watershed health is supported by this prioritizing technique, which is processed with the help of GIS-based technologies such as ArcGIS 10.4. ArcGIS 10.4 provides an effective way of defining conservation concerns at the local and regional scales by facilitating a thorough examination of morphometric parameters and supporting the prioritization method. For the morphometric analysis and sub-catchment prioritization strategy in various watershed studies, ArcGIS 10.4 is a very useful software version to achieve the proposed tasks. In the present study, the basic and relief characteristics were among the tools used to prioritize sub-catchments. Significant physical attributes, including height, total area, average perimeter, entire length, and the exact number of major rivers and streams, were digitally obtained for every single sub-catchment using GIS 10.4 software.