SESMAR - Soil Erosion Susceptibility Maps And Raster dataset for the hydrological basins of North Africa

The SESMAR dataset offers readily available maps and raster images tailored for scientists and decision-makers. It is derived from a wealth of remote sensing data covering the period from 2001 to 2023. Operating at a spatial resolution of 500m, this dataset  evaluates soil loss susceptibility in the North African region. The application of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, originally formulated by Wischmeier and Smith in 1978, was used to enhance the credibility of the dataset's computational methodology.

The dataset lies on the integration of diverse open-source datasets, namely MOD13A2.061 Terra Vegetation Indices for calculating the Cover Management factor, MCD12Q1.006 MODIS Land Cover Type Yearly Global, CHIRPS dataset for precipitation, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) dataset for topography, and Open Land Map Soil Texture Class (USDA System). This multi-source integration enhances the dataset's reliability and applicability for various environmental and agricultural studies.

The SESMAR dataset provides consistent susceptibility maps for major North African basins and offers readily classified raster images, enhancing its usability for researchers and practitioners. The basins are extracted from HydroSHEDS/v1/Basins/hybas dataset based on HYBAS_ID, also provided to ensure the identification of the specific basin for further analysis. The reliance on HydroSHEDS, a robust mapping product by Lehner and Grill (2013), ensures comprehensive hydrographic information across different scales, ranging from coarse to detailed. For the convenience of prospective users, it's noteworthy that the resultant raster datasets cover extensive basins, which can be further partitioned into smaller or medium-sized sub-basins as necessary.

The dataset is splitted into 22 rasters in a compressed format, consisting of a single band each one. It characterizes soil loss susceptibility, categorizing each raster cell into six distinct classes. The classification is based on the estimated annual soil loss rates per hectare, with associated values as follows:

- 0: No Data  This category designates areas where soil loss susceptibility information is unavailable, serving as a placeholder for missing or inaccessible data.

- 1: Very Low (< 5 t/ha/year)  Raster cells in this class represent areas with very low susceptibility to soil loss, indicating an annual rate of less than 5 tons per hectare.

- 2: Low (5 to 15 t/ha/year)  This class characterizes areas with low susceptibility, where the annual soil loss rate falls within the range of 5 to 15 tons per hectare.

- 3: Medium (15 to 50 t/ha/year)  Raster cells categorized as medium susceptibility denote moderate levels of soil loss, with an annual rate ranging from 15 to 50 tons per hectare.

- 4: High (50 to 80 t/ha/year)  This class identifies areas with high susceptibility to soil loss, where the annual rate ranges from 50 to 80 tons per hectare.

- 5: Very High (> 80 t/ha/year)  Raster cells in this category indicate the highest susceptibility to soil loss, with an annual rate exceeding 80 tons per hectare.

This comprehensive classification system is integral to the raster dataset, facilitating a nuanced understanding of soil loss susceptibility across different geographical locations. The dataset serves for environmental and agricultural planning, enabling stakeholders to identify and prioritize areas for targeted soil conservation measures. Continuous efforts to maintain data accuracy through updates and validation processes will ensure the dataset's reliability and relevance over time.