Vegetation Greening in Chambal Badlands

Climate variability in recent decades has significantly influenced the eco-geomorphic dynamics of global drylands and loess landscapes, often exhibiting large-scale spatial heterogeneity. In this context, understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation greening in the semi-arid, erosion-prone Chambal Badlands of central India is essential for characterizing erosion processes and landscape stability. Here, we present the MODIS-derived Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series (2000–2024), alongside InSAR-based deformation analyses (using SBAS and PS techniques), supplemented by sediment concentration data to quantify greening trends and assess the erosion dynamics of the region. Our results indicate a statistically significant increase in vegetation greening, particularly pronounced in the eastern region and corresponds with rising rainfall trends. InSAR analyses revealed no evidence of large-scale erosion; instead, positive deformation velocities were observed, suggesting surface stabilization. Localized sediment loss from agricultural lands and subsequent deposition along riverbanks may explain the weak positive trend in suspended sediment loads observed in recent years. These findings underscore the growing ecological resilience of the Chambal badlands and demonstrate the value of integrating optical and microwave remote sensing techniques for monitoring vegetation and erosion interactions in inaccessible, geomorphologically active regions