Groundwater Potential Zones in Relation to Catchment Condition in Orenburg, Russia

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to detect groundwater availability for agriculture in the Orenburg, Russia. Remote sensing data (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) were used to locate potential zones for groundwater in Orenburg. Diverse maps such as a base map, geomorphological, geological structural, lithology, drainage, slope, land use/cover and groundwater potential zone were prepared using the satellite remote sensing data, ground truth data, and secondary data. ArcGIS software was utilized to manipulate these data sets. The groundwater availability of the study was classified into different classes such as very high, high, moderate, low and very low based on its hydro-geomorphological conditions. The land use/cover map was prepared using a digital classification technique with the limited ground truth for mapping irrigated areas in the Orenburg, Russia.