Military Geography: The Interaction of Desert Geomorphology and Military Operations.

摘要

This research investigates the interaction of desert geomorphology and military operations. Battles throughout history were fought in desert regions and the future is certain to hold additional conflicts, particularly in the Middle East where Operation Iraqi Freedom currently rages at the time of this writing. Regardless of the frequency of desert warfare, this environment is not always well understood. Reliance on visual appearance and generalized maps of desert regions may cause perceptions that do not reflect reality. The first part of this research reassesses prior assumptions of geomorphic homogeneity in the easily accessible western Mojave Desert, California by comparing a United States Geologic Survey (USGS) geologic map with remotely sensed Thematic Mapper Simulator (TMS) imagery, using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Imagery is classified, then compared and correlated with the geologic map to produce a more accurate assessment of the surface that reveals significant complexity. Strategically important desert regions worldwide are not as well studied or accessible as the Mojave Desert, which suggests that these areas may also be misperceived.