Potential of TM Imagery for Monitoring and Assessment of Desertified Land

A technical methodology of computer screen interpretation is introduced to produce satellite imagery classification map on an area of about 100 000 km2 of Kerqin Desert in eastern part of Inner Mongol with a mosaic of 6 TM scenes. The potential of remote sensing technique is assessed for change monitoring of desertified land and for environment development tendency estimation. The two problems of salinization and desertification should be treated in different order according to regional situation. The FAO classification and notation principle by land unit,land use and added characters was used in the procedure.