Cloud-Based Soil Loss Assessment in Northeastern Libya Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Google Earth Engine Platform

Soil loss assessment is essential for sustainable land management and effective soil conservation. The objectives of this study are to: (a) develop a cloud-based framework for assessing soil loss caused by the sheet and rill water erosion in northeastern Libya using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform; (b) examine the impacts of land cover changes on soil erosion over the last decade; and (c) identify driving forces of soil erosion in the study area and discuss the potential implications and management recommendations for sustainable soil conservation practices and agricultural development in the region. The study introduces a fully integrated framework for soil erosion assessment using the GEE cloud platform and an improved version of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), which offers benefits for researchers and practitioners. The findings demonstrated that the average soil loss rate across the study area was 8.34 tons per hectare in 2010 and notably decreased to 5.19 tons per hectare in 2020. The categories of soil loss include five classes: very slight, slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. In 2010, the very slight category covered 58.91% of the total area, while it increased to 64.50% in 2020. Similarly, the slight class increased from 10.74% to 12.49%, while the moderate and severe classes decreased. These changes indicate shifts in soil erosion patterns resulting in both increases and decreases in different areas. This highlights the need for sustainable land management practices to combat soil erosion in the region.