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Synopsis of geo-environmental hazards in Hail region, Saudi Arabia using remote sensing

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Abstract

Hail desert in Saudi Arabia is subjected to a range of geo-environmental hazards due to its intrinsic physiographic and geologic nature. These hazards include: sand drift, flash floods, rock falls, problem soils, potential hazards from intra-plate lava flows of dormant volcanoes (harrat), and dust storms. Remote sensing and field investigation were used to identify and quantify the magnitude of these hazards. Hail is a growing urban and agricultural development region; however, some infrastructure have been constructed in vulnerable locations to geo-environmental hazards. Development plans should consider such hazards when executing sprawl and extension of public services.

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Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges and thanks three anonymous reviewers for their deep revisions and valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Egypt

    Mohamed E. Hereher

  2. Biology Department, Faculty of Science, The University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed E. Hereher

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  1. Mohamed E. Hereher
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Correspondence to Mohamed E. Hereher.

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Hereher, M.E. Synopsis of geo-environmental hazards in Hail region, Saudi Arabia using remote sensing. Environ Earth Sci 75, 233 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5024-0

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