REMOTE SENSING AND GIS-BASED ANALYSIS OF LANDFORM EVOLUTION AND EROSION SUSCEPTIBILITY IN THE UPPER BENUE TROUGH, NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Landform evolution and erosion constitute major geomorphological processes influencing landscape development in the Upper Benue Trough of northeastern Nigeria. The increasing rate of land degradation in this region has raised concerns about its geomorphic stability and environmental sustainability. This study applied remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to analyze landform evolution patterns and identify zones susceptible to erosion in the Upper Benue Trough. Multi-temporal Landsat 8 imagery, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and ancillary geological data were integrated to derive topographic, slope, curvature, and land cover parameters. Morphometric indices such as slope gradient, drainage density, and relief ratio were computed to assess terrain instability. Weighted overlay analysis was used to generate an erosion susceptibility map. Results reveal that about 34% of the study area is highly prone to erosion, mostly along steep slopes and regions with sparse vegetation cover. The evolution of landforms in the Upper Benue Trough is controlled primarily by differential erosion, lithological variability, and fluvial incision along fault-controlled valleys. The study demonstrates the efficacy of GIS-based terrain analysis in regional geomorphic investigations and provides valuable information for sustainable land management in northeastern Nigeria.

Keywords:

Remote Sensing, GIS, Landform Evolution, Erosion Susceptibility, Upper Benue Trough, Morphometric Analysis, DEM, Terrain Analysis, Drainage Density, Nigeria