| 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.; This research then explores a bi-directional linkage between geomorphology and military operations, first by investigating the influence of geomorphic processes on the conduct of military operations, then by considering the effect of military operations on the physical environment. A conceptual model that emphasizes fundamental geomorphic processes and conditions is developed to examine warfare in non-temperate environments. The model is successfully evaluated in desert regions and validated through the use of historical examples. It provides an alternative and complementary technique to examine the environment's operational effects on troops, equipment, and tactics, compared to more traditional, applied work that focuses on how to cope with these conditions.; Last, this research examines the impact of 60-year-old tank maneuvers on desert pavement in western Arizona using a nuclear density gauge, Backscatter Electron (BSE) microscopy, and various field methods. Alterations made to the pavement by tank passage support natural moisture penetration into the subsurface at the study site, which enhances and is a necessary condition for vegetative growth and some pavement formative processes. |
