seid omid aleyasin; bahman shamsesfandabad; Hamid Toranjzar; abas ahmadi; Shahro Mokhtari
Abstract
Abstract: Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They provide a unique and rich habitat for creature .they also perform a wide range of economic and service functions such as water conservation, runoff regulation, water quality treatment and recreational services. The aim of ...
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Abstract: Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They provide a unique and rich habitat for creature .they also perform a wide range of economic and service functions such as water conservation, runoff regulation, water quality treatment and recreational services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ecosystem health of Meyghan Wetland of Arak based on different methods. To evaluate the Meyghan Wetland of Arak and also to evaluate the status of benthic organisms and other parameters, sampling of sediments of the wetland floor was performed. Sampling was performed at 10 points of the wetland and at 5 replications at each point. Several indicators were used to assess the health of Meyghan Wetland. Which included a biotic-index (BI) based on the work of Borja et al. (2000). In addition to the above, the main framework includes bio-indicators, heavy metal pollution index and water quality index, which have been considered in this study. The ecosystem health of Meyghan Wetland was evaluated based on the mentioned indicators and the map of ecosystem health of Meyghan Wetland was prepared. The results of this study showed that except for the nickel, zinc and lead as well as pH, for other elements (EC, Na, Cl, Mg, Ca, HCO3, SO4 and TDS), the lowest and highest values belong respectively To stations 3 and 6. The high amount of these elements in station 6 can be due to the activity of sodium sulfate factory in the northern part of the wetland, which causes changes in the wetland ecosystem by removing sediments from the wetland floor. In the case of copper, zinc and lead, the lowest concentration is seen in the northwestern part of the wetland and the highest concentration is seen in the western and southeastern parts of the wetland.
mohammad taghi heydari; Hosseinali Bahrami; , alireza aliyari
Abstract
Soil moisture is one of the fundamental parameters of the environment that is directly influenced by plant life, animal and activity of micro-organisms and plays a major role in energy exchanges between air and soil. Determination of the exact amount of soil moisture content in agricultural, hydrology ...
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Soil moisture is one of the fundamental parameters of the environment that is directly influenced by plant life, animal and activity of micro-organisms and plays a major role in energy exchanges between air and soil. Determination of the exact amount of soil moisture content in agricultural, hydrology and geological sciences is very important. Therefore, the use of a method that can achieve soil moisture in normal and non-corrosion conditions with high speed and accuracy is very important and fundamental. The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-destructive method for the subsurface investigation that is evolving and seems to be able to greatly help agriculture to identify soil and protect culture systems. Different studies have been done in the field of soil moisture determination using GPR, but in Iran, there are limited studies on the ability of this method to estimate spatial changes of soil moisture content, therefore, this research has been done with these goals. The results indicate that in the study area, the distribution of humidity at each stage of harvest shows limited changes if the time changes of humidity in the time interval between winter and spring are about 10-15% of the difference. Also, the mean square of GPR method error compared with TDR 13.2 method is also compared to the GPR and weighted 81.3 method and the correlation coefficient in these two comparisons is equal to 0.87 and 0.95, which indicates the high accuracy of the GPR method for estimating soil moisture.
mehri raoofi; Mahmoud Habibnejad Roshan; Kaka Shahedi; Fatemeh Kardel
Abstract
Rivers are the main arteries of watersheds that play an important role in providing water for agriculture, drinking and industry. On the other hand, the reduction of river water quality has been one of the biggest human concerns in the last century. In order to evaluate the quality of running water, ...
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Rivers are the main arteries of watersheds that play an important role in providing water for agriculture, drinking and industry. On the other hand, the reduction of river water quality has been one of the biggest human concerns in the last century. In order to evaluate the quality of running water, biological indicators and the study of benthic invertebrates can be used. The aim of this study was to investigate the water quality of the main rivers of Babolrood watershed using the Hilsenhof Biological Index (HFBI). For this purpose, sampling of benthic invertebrates in 5 main river stations was performed using a net frame (sorber) with a cover area of 40 cm2 and transferred to the laboratory for identification. Then, using Pennak (1953) and Mellenby (1963) identification keys, the samples were identified by family and sex and counted and weighed. Also, at the same time as sampling of benthic organisms to study the physicochemical properties of water, samples were taken from river water. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between biological samples and physicochemical properties of water. The results showed that Babolk station with the lowest FBI and Babolrood-Babol station with the highest FBI were in the category of non-organic pollution and some organic pollution, respectively. The results of correlation of biological samples with physicochemical parameters in most cases were not significant at 95% confidence level. The highest correlation coefficient between Oligochaeta species was with Diversity biodiversity.Keywords: Benthic invertebrates, water quality, HFBI, Babolrood watershed, Mazandaran province
jamal mosaffaie; Ataollah Ebrahimi; Mahmood Arabkhedri; Parviz Garshasbi; Amin Salehpour Jam; Mahmoudreza Tabatabaei; Hamidreza Peyrowan; Mohammadreza Gharibreza; Mehran Zand; Bagher Ghermez Cheshme
Abstract
For the effective management of watersheds, it is necessary to conduct appropriate and practical research, which in turn requires solving the problems related to this area. This article intends to have an analysis of their problems in the field of soil conservation and watershed management based on common ...
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For the effective management of watersheds, it is necessary to conduct appropriate and practical research, which in turn requires solving the problems related to this area. This article intends to have an analysis of their problems in the field of soil conservation and watershed management based on common thinking with the research and education centers of agriculture and natural resources of the country. For this purpose, these problems were collected based on the request of the SCWMRI from the provincial branches. Then, the announcements were categorized in two organizational and thematic ways (general and partial). The results indicate that in this survey, 25 centers out of 32 provincial centers (78% participation) have announced 182 cases as problems in the research department in the field of soil conservation and watershed management. Thematic classification of the announced cases showed that the subjects of knowledge-based productivity of watershed resources, watershed monitoring and evaluation, and solving the gap in the research department with implementation have the most importance with 28, 26, and 25 cases (15%, 14%, and 13%), respectively. The results of organizational classification also indicate that the departments of the directorate and research departments of watershed management and also hydrology and water resources development have the most importance with 34, 28, and 24 cases (19%, 15%, and 14%), respectively. Based on the results of this research, the managers and decision-makers of the research and implementation departments of soil and watershed protection in the country will be able to have better targeting for their future policies, strategies and actions.
sahel haghighi; ZeinabY Jafarian; Mohamad Azadbakht; forood sharifi; Reza Tamartash
Abstract
According to the morphological and physiological characteristics of vetiver roots, it can be usedas the most suitable protective wall on the steep and side slopes. For this purpose, this study was carried out on the side slopes of Sangar Dam reservoir in Siahkol city in Gilan province. In this resesrch, ...
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According to the morphological and physiological characteristics of vetiver roots, it can be usedas the most suitable protective wall on the steep and side slopes. For this purpose, this study was carried out on the side slopes of Sangar Dam reservoir in Siahkol city in Gilan province. In this resesrch, soil and Vetiver plant roots were sampled from the depth of 0-50 cm of soil with different degrees of slope of the first surface (30-40 degrees), the second level (40-50 degrees), the third level 60-70 degrees) and four repetitions were done. The results of the research showed that with the increase in the slope, the amount of organic carbon, silt, soil clay, root weigh, Vetiver root extract weight increases. But with the increase in slope, some soil properties such as acidity, salinity, sand, humidity and lime decreases. As a result, there is a significant correlation (p≤0.05) between the soil properties and the amount of root weight and the weight of Vetiver root extract in the slope of the study area.
Reza Bayat; majid zanjanijam; Majid Soufi
Abstract
Soil erosion causes soil degradation and reduction of its fertility potential. Gully erosion is one of the accelerated phenomena caused by human developmen programs and one of the important factors of soil degradation, which causes soil lost and sediment production in different climates of Iran. Physical ...
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Soil erosion causes soil degradation and reduction of its fertility potential. Gully erosion is one of the accelerated phenomena caused by human developmen programs and one of the important factors of soil degradation, which causes soil lost and sediment production in different climates of Iran. Physical condition of each region, morphometric characters of each gully, soil, land use, causes of gully erosion and economic damages were recorded. Based on the information obtained, the prioritization of watershed areas for the implementation of watershed management and soil protection operations based on the proposed method of prioritizing indicators of area, length, width to depth, total damage and damage per surface unit according to a score between 0 for no priority and 9 was given the highest priority. First, the value of each factor was divided by the average value of the factor in the province and in ascending order, a score of 0 for the lowest value of the index and a score of 9 for the highest value was assigned to the region, and the priority of the regions was determined separately based on the scores of each index. Then, the total score of the indicators' priorities was calculated, in ascending order, and the highest score was determined as the first priority and the lowest score was determined as the last priority.Soil of gullies has heavy to semi-heavy texture and land use is natural rangeland mostly. Causes of gully erosion are destruction of rangeland vegetation cover and soil erodibility. Economic damage to rangeland due to gully development was more than 3984 million rials. Result of priority control indexes review showed that Aftab Dar, Durchak and QostynRud Regions have high priority of erosion control and Yala-Bad, Dastjerdeh and MoallmeKelayeh areas have lower priority.
Morteza Miri; Mehran Zand; Mohammadreza Kousari; Mojtaba Rahimi
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate the spatial-temporal variations of extreme temperature events in Iran. The data used in this study includes the daily average maximum and minimum temperatures from 123 synoptic stations during the observational period from 1988 to 2017. Additionally, it ...
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The purpose of this research is to investigate the spatial-temporal variations of extreme temperature events in Iran. The data used in this study includes the daily average maximum and minimum temperatures from 123 synoptic stations during the observational period from 1988 to 2017. Additionally, it incorporates data from the CNRM-CM6-1 model for 2020 to 2060 under two scenarios: optimistic (SSP126) and pessimistic (SSP585). Calculating extreme warm temperature indices from 1988 to 1977 showed that, in general, for most stations, the frequency and trend of warm indices such as warm nights, warm days, the number of summer days, and the number of tropical nights has been increasing. The analysis of temporal changes in cold index events revealed that, overall, the trend for cold indices such as cold days, cold nights, and the number of frost days has been decreasing for most stations. An analysis of the frequency of the SU25 index event as one of the most common extreme warm indices showed that the highest occurrence of this index was 363 days for the Konarak (airport) station, while the lowest occurrence was 21 days for the Ardabil station. The maximum number of frost days (FD) is 179 days for the Sarab station, while the minimum occurrence is no frost days for some of the southwestern stations in the country. Based on the outputs of the CNRM-CM6-1 model for the ssp126 and ssp585 scenarios during the period 2060-2020, it has been determined that the trend of warm extremes in regions with higher elevations and latitudes does not differ significantly compared to regions with lower elevations and latitudes. Based on the findings from this study and similar research, it can be stated that Iran’s warm temperature extremes have increased over past and future periods, while extreme cold events in Iran are decreasing.
Omid Rahmati; Seyed Masoud Soleimanpour; Bagher Ghermez Cheshme
Abstract
Extended AbstractIntroduction:Floods cause financial losses and many casualties in Iran every year and have harmful effects on the sustainable development of the watershed. The purpose of this research is to develop a scientific framework for evaluating the flood vulnerability situation in Zarineh watershed.Materials ...
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Extended AbstractIntroduction:Floods cause financial losses and many casualties in Iran every year and have harmful effects on the sustainable development of the watershed. The purpose of this research is to develop a scientific framework for evaluating the flood vulnerability situation in Zarineh watershed.Materials and methods:In this research, various components including social, economic, organizational and infrastructural were considered to formulate the framework for assessing the watershed vulnerability to floods. Then, the total vulnerability index was calculated for each village and after its standardization at the scale of Zarineh watershed, it was classified into five different groups: very low, low, medium, high and very high. Finally, the vulnerability index map of the entire Zarineh watershed was produced.Results and discussion:Based on the total vulnerability index map, it can be stated that Chehlcheshmeh, Golchidar, and Obatu districts were the most vulnerable, and Boyen, Namashir, and Zolfaghar districts had the lowest total vulnerability index.Conclusions:Based on the findings of this research, the framework based on social, economic, organizational, and infrastructural conditions has made it possible to prepare a flood vulnerability map of the watershed. The variables considered in the calculation of the total vulnerability index are selected in such a way that they cover different aspects and their information can be collected. The vulnerability map of Zarineh watershed has provided useful information for decision makers and managers in flood management. Improving the condition of different parts of the Zarineh watershed requires detailed planning of the executive bodies in accordance with their social, economic, organizational, and infrastructural conditions.
yahya parvizi; Zahra Gerami
Abstract
Estimates made in the country indicate the annual waste of about one billion cubic meters of soil from the country's land resources. Although the economic valuation of this volume of soil resource loss is difficult, but considering the fragile balance of ecosystems in the country's land resources, it ...
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Estimates made in the country indicate the annual waste of about one billion cubic meters of soil from the country's land resources. Although the economic valuation of this volume of soil resource loss is difficult, but considering the fragile balance of ecosystems in the country's land resources, it is possible to predict what irreparable and irreversible loss this volume of resource loss will bring to the production capacity and operation of these resources. shows Part of this soil loss is compensated and replaced by soil formation processes, and as long as the rate of erosion does not exceed the rate of soil formation, it is considered a kind of natural and inevitable process. Knowing the rate of natural replacement is necessary to monitor the changes in the quality and quantity of this natural resource and to know the process of its deterioration or recovery. On the other hand, every year, large amounts of the country's financial resources are spent on watershed management measures. Meanwhile, there is no quantitative regional standard for the design of these measures, as well as a practical guideline for evaluating the effectiveness of these measures. This standard, as well as the quantity of soil regeneration and renewability, is known in the world as tolerable soil erosion. In this article, a summary of the formation of this concept in soil science, factors affecting the value of T, as well as its calculation methods are introduced and evaluated. Also, a summary of research has been done and their results related to tolerable erosion and familiarization with different methods in this field, suggestions and research needs and optimal solutions for estimating tolerable erosion for the conditions of the country have been introduced.
Seyed Ahmad Hosseini; Ahmad Tabatabaei
Abstract
AbstractCorrect estimation of the suspended sediment content of rivers plays an important role in studies of erosion and sediment, hydrology, and watershed management. Simulation of suspended sediment in hydrological systems with a high degree of uncertainty and yet, our understanding of the components ...
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AbstractCorrect estimation of the suspended sediment content of rivers plays an important role in studies of erosion and sediment, hydrology, and watershed management. Simulation of suspended sediment in hydrological systems with a high degree of uncertainty and yet, our understanding of the components and processes within them is faced with uncertainties, causing many applications of intelligent models, including artificial neural networks. However, the use of these intelligent models is also facing challenges. Determining the appropriate network structure requires optimizing the parameters used (such as the optimal number of neurons and layers, weight and bias, and the type of activation functions) so that their proper calibration by trial and error, while low efficiency, results in time-consuming. In the present study, in order to simulate the daily suspended sediment load in selected watersheds of Ardabil province, including the Sarab Gharasu watershed (Ghorchai and Hirchai Rivers), a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network was used. A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to train the neural network model, in addition to the conventional error propagation method, and to optimize the weight and bias values of neural network model neurons. Also, the self-organizing map clustering method was used to increase the generalization power of the models. The results of the present study showed that training of neural network models with the PSO algorithm in all selected rivers was more efficient than neural network models which use only the error propagation method. Since evolutionary algorithms (such as PSO algorithm) can provide suitable solutions for the optimization of neural network parameters, their application in training neural network models can be a good solution to improve the efficiency of smart models in simulating suspended sediment of rivers and using its results in the progress of watershed structures and water resources operations.
Elaheh Foroudi Sefat; Soudabeh Golestani Kermani; Marzieh Samare Hashemi; Mohammad Zounemat-Kermani
Abstract
Materials and methods:In the present review research, articles and reports related to flood and drought phenomena in Kerman Province (located in Iran) have been collected and studied, and in this regard, 49 practical articles in Persian (2004‒2024) and 9 articles in English (2012‒2023) were analyzed. ...
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Materials and methods:In the present review research, articles and reports related to flood and drought phenomena in Kerman Province (located in Iran) have been collected and studied, and in this regard, 49 practical articles in Persian (2004‒2024) and 9 articles in English (2012‒2023) were analyzed. In a general classification, Kerman province was divided into four regions based on the average latitude and longitude; respectively, the northwest and southeast regions accounted for 35% and 34% of the citations and accounted for the largest amount of studies, and 73% of the sources of this research are related to studies of drought in the province, which shows the age of this phenomenon. In this research, 27% of the reviewed studies used questionnaires, and the most commonly used statistical software and analytical software were statistical-based (26%) (e.g., SPSS software) and GIS-based software (24%), respectively.Results and discussion:Flood and drought phenomena in Kerman Province have been increasing in intensity and frequency in recent years compared to the past, and their impact on societies cannot be denied. Conclusions:The summary of the obtained results shows that the biggest threat to Kerman Province is the drought phenomenon, that the whole province suffers from drought and its effects, and according to the results, the slope of the drought trend line of the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), during the statistical period of 1990‒1996 was equal to +0.046, which indicates a decrease in drought in the province, and in the statistical periods of 1997‒2010 and 2011‒2018, respectively, it was equal to -0.031 and -0.01, which indicates an increase in the severity of drought in recent years. Also, the occurrence of floods is increasing, and this phenomenon has caused the most damage in the northwest-southeast belt of the province and in the high areas.
zobeideh bidaki
Abstract
Nowadays, the importance of water and soil resource management and environmental conservation has become one of the main concerns in developmental planning. Watershed management, as a comprehensive approach for the sustainable management and utilization of water and soil resources, plays a crucial role ...
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Nowadays, the importance of water and soil resource management and environmental conservation has become one of the main concerns in developmental planning. Watershed management, as a comprehensive approach for the sustainable management and utilization of water and soil resources, plays a crucial role in improving the environmental, economic, and social conditions of various regions. The Baghamch watershed in Chenaran County, with its unique geographical and climatic characteristics, has become one of the key areas for implementing watershed management projects. This area, with its valuable natural resources, particularly surface and groundwater, is highly impacted by climate change and human activities. Therefore, the improvement and preservation of these resources through effective watershed management measures not only contribute to environmental conservation but also have significant effects on enhancing the economic and social conditions of local communities. Watershed management can help improve rural livelihoods and strengthen the local economy by mitigating the negative effects of floods and droughts, improving soil and water quality, and creating new job opportunities. In this regard, understanding and evaluating these impacts in the Baghamch watershed can serve as a model for similar regions and provide valuable information to policymakers and natural resource managers. This article examines the effects of watershed management on the improvement of the economic and social conditions of local communities in the Baghamch watershed and aims to contribute to a clearer understanding of the benefits and challenges of this approach in sustainable development through data analysis and the outcomes of watershed management projects. It is hoped that the results of this study will help enhance management processes and improve the quality of life in local communities.
Maryam Sabouri; Haydeh Ara; Mohammad Kia Kianian; Amin Salehpour Jam
Abstract
Over the past decades, excessive and unprincipled exploitation of watershed resources (soil, water, and vegetation) has reduced their health. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the tourism value of geomorphotourist landscapes (case study: Hablehroud basin) using the Prolong model. Among ...
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Over the past decades, excessive and unprincipled exploitation of watershed resources (soil, water, and vegetation) has reduced their health. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the tourism value of geomorphotourist landscapes (case study: Hablehroud basin) using the Prolong model. Among the geomorphic sites in the Hablehroud region, 3 sites were selected and an identity card was prepared for each of the geomorphic sites. In this study, based on the Prolong model, a survey was conducted of a number of experts knowledgeable about the study area and visiting tourists (30 people) using a simple random sampling method. In this model, the tourism value of a place was measured by the average of aesthetic, scientific, cultural and economic values. After measuring the data, it was determined that among the three selected samples, the Vashi Gorge geosite with a tourism value of 0.54 and an average productivity value of 0.68 has the highest geomorphological tourism value. What has increased the value and importance of the Vashi Gorge is its uniqueness in the country, favorable and cool climate, geomorphological shapes and unique carvings on the rock wall of the gorge, as well as the waterfall view and the presence of a very beautiful meadow around this gorge. The Rudafshan Cave geosite with a tourism value of (0.41) was ranked second. The Khumdeh mineral spring with a hardness of (0.31) took third place. The assessments indicate that the tourism values of the geomorphological landforms of the Tangeh Vashi region are mainly due to the high value of the external beauty, cultural value, and scientific value of this landform. Factors such as difficulty of access, lack of appropriate welfare and service facilities, and lack of attention to geotourism have been effective in reducing the total calculated hardness.
Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi; Roghayeh Alipour; Hasan Fereydoni; Fatemeh Zahra Enayati; Alireza Pakravan; Reza Yaghoti; Mitra Moradnezhad; Fatemeh Esmailzadeh Ashini; Fatemeh Abdolbaghi; Sahar Mousavian; Reza Chamani; Marjan Bahlekeh; Hamed Beigi
Abstract
To prevent further land degradation, effective policies and strategies are imperative. This study reviews detailed executive studies of the Daftabad Watershed in South Khorasan Province, Iran, to identify its problems. Field visits and a fishbone diagram were used to create a list of regional problems ...
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To prevent further land degradation, effective policies and strategies are imperative. This study reviews detailed executive studies of the Daftabad Watershed in South Khorasan Province, Iran, to identify its problems. Field visits and a fishbone diagram were used to create a list of regional problems and challenges. The study evaluated six pillars of comprehensive watershed management, viz., legal, policy, economic, social, cultural, and knowledge. The assessment shows that the current approaches to managing the Daftabad Watershed face significant challenges, including inappropriate management patterns, climate change, lack of local community participation, investment deficiencies, and socio-economic issues. These factors have left the watershed highly vulnerable. Additionally, the lack of consideration for the diverse needs of the population, particularly women, has led to inadequate population management solutions. Utilizing the economic capabilities of the Daftabad Watershed, such as agriculture and barberry cultivation, to produce and market products and expand ecotourism, can reduce poverty and strengthen local economies. Comprehensive and systematic management can improve the current trend of watersheds, reduce the waste of water and soil resources, curb migration to larger cities, and mitigate environmental problems. Active participation of all stakeholders—government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities—is crucial in the design and implementation of this program. Emphasizing community participation, effective policy-making, investment in infrastructure, support for vulnerable groups, and integrating Indigenous and scientific knowledge can significantly contribute to its success.This study underscores the need for a comprehensive and participatory approach, providing solutions for improving Daftabad Watershed management. The results can serve as a model for managers and policymakers, emphasizing holistic and inclusive strategies for sustainable development and resilience. It is recommended that managers and planners prioritize evaluating, monitoring, and measuring the effects of implemented projects to preserve and restore healthy watersheds and prevent migration and associated problems in neighboring cities.
parsa haghighi; Seyed Masoud Soleimanpour; Sohrab Sadeghi
Abstract
Climate change and global warming can directly affect climate extremes and the temporal and spatial variations of these events. In this study, in order to analyze the trend of near-future climate extreme events in Fars Province, the ACCESS-ESM1-5 model related to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and ...
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Climate change and global warming can directly affect climate extremes and the temporal and spatial variations of these events. In this study, in order to analyze the trend of near-future climate extreme events in Fars Province, the ACCESS-ESM1-5 model related to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and the latest series of climate scenario releases (SSP) were used after exponential downscaling using the LARS–WG statistical model. After exponential downscaling of the ACCESS-ESM1-5 model, precipitation, minimum and maximum temperatures were predicted for the near-future period (2026-2055). Then, using the RClimdex package in R software, 14 climate extreme indices (7 temperature indices and 7 precipitation indices) were extracted for the base period and the near future. The results of the exponential downscaling of the ACCESS-ESM1-5 model output indicate an increase in the minimum and maximum temperatures of the near future period (2026-2055) compared to the base period (1991-2020) in all three stations and all three scenarios. The average precipitation values are also predicted to decrease at the Shiraz station and increase at the two Abadeh and Lar stations. The results of determining the trend in climate indices showed that the trend in temperature extreme indices is more noticeable than precipitation extreme indices. An increasing trend in hot extreme indices and a decreasing trend in cold extreme indices will occur in the near future period in Fars province. The frequency of extreme precipitation events also indicates an increase in the daily precipitation intensity index, an increase in the maximum one-day precipitation at the three Abadeh, Shiraz and Lar stations, and an increase in the number of days with heavy and very heavy precipitation at the two Abadeh and Lar stations. These conditions could indicate an increase in intense and short-term rainfall, as opposed to a shortening of the region's rainy season.
Ali Shahnazari; maryam mirhashemi; alireza zarei ghorkhodi
Abstract
The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying and prioritizing factors affecting the harvesting of river materials and providing optimal harvesting management indicators. The required information has been obtained through survey-type field research, by conducting face-to-face interviews ...
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The current research was conducted with the aim of identifying and prioritizing factors affecting the harvesting of river materials and providing optimal harvesting management indicators. The required information has been obtained through survey-type field research, by conducting face-to-face interviews and using questionnaires. The examination of technical factors showed that items T3 with a frequency of 16.92% and item T5 (changes in the level of underground water in aquifers near the river) with a frequency of 4.61% are the most important and least important factors in harvesting river materials, respectively. Among the legal components of item L1 and item L6, with frequencies of 18.69% and 8.46% respectively, the first and last priorities of the factors affecting the harvesting of river materials have been assigned to themselves. The results of the study of socio-economic factors affecting the harvesting of river materials showed that item S1 with a frequency of 15.38% is the first priority of socio-economic factors affecting the harvesting of river materials and item S3 is the least important (6.17%) factor in harvesting. It is a river material. On the other hand, item E2 is the most important influencing factor in harvesting river materials with a frequency of 23.08% and item E5 with a frequency of 16.15% is the least important factor among environmental components.The results of the general investigation of legal, technical, socio-economic and environmental factors indicate that the weakness of the legal components is the most effective factor in aggravating the negative consequences caused by the harvesting of river materials.
Amin Salehpour Jam; Jamal Mosaffaie
Abstract
In this study, problem structuring and identification and prioritization of solutions to improve the health of the Kal-Aji watershed were carried out based on the DPSIR framework and non-parametric statistical tests. In the first stage, the drivers and pressures resulting in the health status of the ...
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In this study, problem structuring and identification and prioritization of solutions to improve the health of the Kal-Aji watershed were carried out based on the DPSIR framework and non-parametric statistical tests. In the first stage, the drivers and pressures resulting in the health status of the Kal-Aji watershed and the related impacts were identified through a literature review, a visit to the watershed, interviews with experts from the departments of natural resources, environment, regional water, the Agricultural Jihad, the Agricultural and Natural Resources Engineering Organization of Golestan, faculty members of academic and research centers, and interviews with local communities. Then, a working group consisting of 26 stakeholders, local knowledgeable individuals, and experts knowledgeable about the issues and problems of the watershed began to determine solutions to improve the health of the Kal-Aji watershed and eliminate or modify the related adverse impacts. In the last stage, after forming the DPSIR table and identifying the various components of this framework in the Kal-Aji watershed, the importance of each of the variables categorized under the five DPSIR components was prioritized and determined. For this purpose, a Likert-scale questionnaire was used as a measurement tool. In this study, each variable was considered as an item, and the validity of the questionnaire was finally confirmed based on the opinions of experts. Also, Cronbach's alpha method was used to calculate the reliability of the measurement tool. In this study, the questionnaire variables were based on the multiple-response coding method, qualitative ordinal variables and matched the Likert scale (very low (1), low (2), medium (3), high (4), and very high (5)), so that the opinion of the expert working group members and the determination of the priority of the items were based on the Friedman nonparametric test.
Mosayeb Heshmati; Mohamad Gheitury; Yahya Parvizi
Abstract
Tillage is a common worldwide agricultural practice impacts soil quality, Thus, there is the worst practice contributing in soil quality depletion, carbon flux and crop yield decline. In order to study the effect of different tillage and crop residue retention on some soil characteristics, an experiment ...
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Tillage is a common worldwide agricultural practice impacts soil quality, Thus, there is the worst practice contributing in soil quality depletion, carbon flux and crop yield decline. In order to study the effect of different tillage and crop residue retention on some soil characteristics, an experiment was carried out in a splite-splite plots. The experiments comprised four main treatments (tillage) and three sub-treatments (crop residue) with three replications. The main tillage treatments include conventional tillage using moldboard plow (T0); combined plow using delta basket roller model (T1); chisel packer plow (T2); and no tillage (T3). Sub-treatment included no crop residue, one third residue and two third residue. Research conducted for four-years (2017–18 to 2020–21). Soil sampling and analysis carried out annually for measurement of soil organic carbon (SOC) bulk density (BD) and soil aggregate size distribution (SASD) at depth 0-20 cm. Results showed that the mean BD value in the main treatments including T0, T1, T2 and T3 were about 1.62, 1.45, 1.40 and 1.37 gcm-3, respectively that was significantly (P<0.05) higher than conventional tillage (T0). The average SOC in T0, T1, T2 and T3 were about 1.20, 1.50, 1.40 and 1.70 %, respectively that was significantly higher in all conservation tillage, but higher in T3. Likewise SOC, the effects of conservation tillage on increasing ratio of coarser SASD > 1 mm) was significantly (p<0.05) higher that T0, and highest in no tillage. The effects of one third and two third crop residue retention on analysed soil variable was significantly higher compared to zero crop residue retention. Although all conservative tillage (T1, T2 and T3) contribute to obvious improvement of measured soil variables, the effects of no tillage (T3) coupled with highest crop residue was found highest value. Following this results, soil erodibilty was reduced through conservation tillage.
kourosh shirani; Mehrdad Pasandi
Abstract
In this study the Sentinel-1 satellite data (ascending, descending, and combined modes) and PSInSAR technique were utilized to assess and map land subsidence risk in major watersheds of Isfahan Province, including Isfahan-Borkhar, Najafabad, Northern Mahyar, Southern Mahyar, and Kuhpayeh-Sejzi. The Sentinel-1 ...
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In this study the Sentinel-1 satellite data (ascending, descending, and combined modes) and PSInSAR technique were utilized to assess and map land subsidence risk in major watersheds of Isfahan Province, including Isfahan-Borkhar, Najafabad, Northern Mahyar, Southern Mahyar, and Kuhpayeh-Sejzi. The Sentinel-1 radar data (2014 to 2023) were used, including ascending and descending imagery, to resolve displacement ambiguities caused by directional movement. Initial data processing involved co-registration of radar images to align pixels accurately and generate interferograms for phase change extraction. Persistent scatterers (PS) were identified using the Amplitude Dispersion Index (ADI) and phase stability analysis. Atmospheric and orbital errors were corrected using statistical models and inversion techniques to eliminate biases. Temporal analysis of ground displacement was conducted to calculate deformation trends, with data georeferenced for spatial interpretation. Validation was carried out by comparing results with ground-based data and independent sources. Final outputs included cumulative subsidence maps, annual subsidence rates, and risk zoning maps highlighting areas prone to land subsidence. The findings reveal that subsidence in the study area ranged from negligible to 55 cm over the nine-year observation period. Annual subsidence rates in parts of the Isfahan-Borkhar and Southern Mahyar watersheds reached 60 mm per year. Combining ascending and descending data improved accuracy and enabled the separation of vertical and horizontal displacement components. The highest cumulative subsidence was observed in urban and agricultural zones of Isfahan-Borkhar and in clayey sediment areas within Southern Mahyar. Hazard zoning maps indicate that Isfahan-Borkhar and Southern Mahyar watersheds have the largest areas classified as high-risk. Other watersheds predominantly exhibit moderate to low-hazard zones. The maps demonstrate a strong correlation between severe subsidence and land use (urban and agricultural areas) as well as geological features. Future research should focus on continuous monitoring and the development of predictive subsidence models to address this issue effectively.
Majid Kazemzadehk; Ali Shahbazi; Zahra Noori; Asghar Bayat
Abstract
Extended abstractIntroductionIn the last few decades, the increasing trend of natural hazards and the destruction of natural resources under the influence of natural and human factors have become increasingly intense. One of the important methods in controlling and reducing surface runoff to adjust peak ...
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Extended abstractIntroductionIn the last few decades, the increasing trend of natural hazards and the destruction of natural resources under the influence of natural and human factors have become increasingly intense. One of the important methods in controlling and reducing surface runoff to adjust peak flow in flood is watershed management measures, including management and protection measures, biological or mechanical. Materials and methodsThe study area is the paired watershed of Zidasht Taleghan, treatment and control watersheds with an area of 104 hectares and 92 hectares, respectively, located inside the representative watershed with an area of 2750 hectares. In the treatment watershed, along with the protection of the entire area, banqueting along with seeding has been implemented on the area of about 12.5 hectares. In the mechanical measures section, 943 and 72.5 cubic meters of gabion structure and dry stone structure were implemented in the treatment watershed, respectively. The total reservoir created by the gabion and dry stone structures was 13,550 and 125 cubic meters, respectively. Results and discussionThe evaluation of changes in vegetation under the effects of watershed measures showed that the percentage of vegetation and plant production is about 8% and 265 kg on average in the treatment watershed (on average, 51% vegetation and 777 kg/hectare production) more than the control watershed (on average, 43% vegetation percentage and 512 kg/hectare production). In the discussion of reducing the peak discharge of the treatment and control watersheds, the results of the evaluation of observational data showed that the peak discharge of the treatment watershed under the effects of watershed management measures was 65% lower than that of the control area (without the implementation of watershed management measures).
Mohammad Gheitury; Mosayeb Heshmati
Abstract
The dieback phenomenon of oak (Quercus sp.) cause imbalance of land resources, increasing dust, soil erosion, flooding, climate change, and poverty of local communities. The objectives of this research was to determine the effects of the runoff harvesting system (crescent-shaped bunds) to combat forest ...
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The dieback phenomenon of oak (Quercus sp.) cause imbalance of land resources, increasing dust, soil erosion, flooding, climate change, and poverty of local communities. The objectives of this research was to determine the effects of the runoff harvesting system (crescent-shaped bunds) to combat forest dieback severity and improving soil quality in the Merek watershed, Kermanshah province, Iran. After constructing bunds, soil moisture was measured for three years (1400-1403). Furthermore, soil sampling carried out and subjected to soil analysis. Dead trees were counted in certain plots, and aboveground cover was also estimated. The results explored soil moisture in top soil (0-15 cm) bottom, downwards and between the bound as well as the control (without bund) were about 20, 17, 14 and 13%, respectively, which was significantly higher in the bund bottom. In deeper layer (15-30 cm) these respective value was about 20, 17, 14 and 13%, respectively, which was significantly higher bottom bund. Accordingly, soil organic matter in the third year in bunds and control treatments was 4.1 and 1.6%, respectively. In addition, bunds contributed to significant increase in very coarse soil aggregates, cation exchange capacity and soil nutrients. Finally, increasing soil organic matter and runoff accumulation in bunds reduced soil erodibility and adversely soil sustainability due to redaction soil erodibility index (0.19) compared to control treatments (0.32). According to the results of this research, the proper and precise construction of these bunds whiteout the use of heavy machinery is a simple, cheap, and effective method for harvesting rainwater causing soil moisture storage and subsequently enhancement of plant biological growth as well as improvement the key soil characteristics, including organic matter, increasing the proportion of coarse aggregates, bulk density, and soil nutrients, which leads to soil sustainable, carbon sequestration, curtailing flooding hazards on the hill-slope, and strengthening subsurface flow.
Sadaf Piri; Mohamad ansarighojghar
Abstract
Meteorological drought is one of the major hazards and anomalies in the country, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In the context of comprehensive watershed management, accurate and timely drought forecasting is of great importance. This is a necessity, especially in sensitive and vulnerable ...
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Meteorological drought is one of the major hazards and anomalies in the country, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In the context of comprehensive watershed management, accurate and timely drought forecasting is of great importance. This is a necessity, especially in sensitive and vulnerable areas such as Khuzestan Province, for the optimal use of water resources, consumption management, and increasing the resilience of natural and human ecosystems. Therefore, drought prediction can increase resistance to possible environmental crises to the desired extent. In the present study, the analysis and prediction of meteorological drought in Khuzestan Province was investigated with the individual FCMR model and the dual FCMR-GOW and FCMR-ACOR models during a 30-year statistical period (1989 to 2020). To assess drought conditions, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) derived from rainfall data from eight synoptic stations was used. Then, the modeling results were compared with the aforementioned models using goodness-of-fit indices. The results indicated that the GOW catalyst improved the FCMR model and the ACOR catalyst reduced the accuracy of the FCMR model. At all eight stations, the dual hybrid FCMR-GOW model ranked first with the highest accuracy in predicting SPI. Also, long-term SPI time windows had higher accuracy than short-term time windows. In general, it can be concluded that combining individual models with meta-heuristic algorithms does not necessarily mean increasing accuracy in SPI modeling.
Ehsan Fathi; MohammadReza Ekhtesasi; Ali Talebi; jamal mosaffaie
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Understanding the damages and their causes in watersheds is a fundamental and essential step in watershed management, setting the stage for identifying suitable solutions and implementing targeted actions in these areas. The objective of this study is to explore management ...
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Introduction and Objective: Understanding the damages and their causes in watersheds is a fundamental and essential step in watershed management, setting the stage for identifying suitable solutions and implementing targeted actions in these areas. The objective of this study is to explore management responses to improve the health of the watershed using the DPSIR approach.Materials and Methods: To this end, factors associated with each component of the DPSIR framework were initially identified through library research, resource review, and field visits to the watershed. A survey was conducted with 20 experts and 20 watershed residents based on the Likert scale, and then the Friedman test was used to prioritize the items from the perspective of experts and residents.Findings: According to the results, five driving forces in the watershed have created 34 pressures on watershed resources, which in turn have led to 11 unfavorable conditions in the watershed. These conditions have also resulted in 20 unintended impacts. Additionally, 32 management responses were proposed to improve the current situation. A matrix of relationships among the factors for each main component of the DPSIR framework and their prioritization from the viewpoints of both groups, experts and stakeholders, was conducted. The results showed a match of 40% among the top priorities, with a 50% match for driving forces, 69% for pressures, 80% for state, 75% for impact, and 84% for response.Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the DPSIR approach serves as an effective framework for analyzing the causes and consequences of environmental and watershed resource issues. By identifying the root causes of problems, it provides appropriate management responses, enabling decision-makers and planners to develop comprehensive watershed management programs.
Asma Badameh; Mahmood Azari; Ali Golkarian
Abstract
Hydrological processes, as part of ecosystem services in drylands, are crucial for effective management and decision-making to preserve ecosystems. Quantitative assessment of ecosystem services is essential for defining various management strategies. Therefore, the objective of this study is to Spatial ...
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Hydrological processes, as part of ecosystem services in drylands, are crucial for effective management and decision-making to preserve ecosystems. Quantitative assessment of ecosystem services is essential for defining various management strategies. Therefore, the objective of this study is to Spatial assessment and analysis of hydrological ecosystem services in the Neyshabur watershed. To this end, the InVEST model was used to determine the quick flow, water yield, erosion, and soil retention in the Neyshabur watershed. The model was calibrated and validated using precipitation, maximum, and minimum temperature data for the periods 1982-1989 and 1990-1993. Then, the monthly precipitation, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature maps were input into the model and executed. The results showed that quick flow is mainly influenced by precipitation. The average annual quick flow and water yield were 34.3 mm and 43.3 mm, respectively. The highest values of quick flow and water yield were observed in Sub-basin 1, while the lowest values were found in Sub-basins 4 and 5. In terms of water yield, these differences were mainly due to climatic conditions and land use types. Soil retention was higher than erosion in all sub-basins. Sub-basin 3, with the highest soil retention, has a greater potential for preventing erosion, while Sub-basin 4 has a lower potential. Forest, shrubland, and scrubland land uses have the greatest ability for soil retention. The findings indicate that Sub-basin 1 requires more precise management to prevent floods and optimize water storage, while forest cover protection is essential for maintaining soil retention services.
Maryam AriaSadr; Dariush Rahimi; Mehran Zand; Hadi Amiri
Abstract
Water quality is an important indicator of health. Determining water quality requires expensive tests. In this research, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Classification And Regression Tree (CART) algorithms have been evaluated. To calibrate the techniques, 321 test samples of physical-chemical elements ...
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Water quality is an important indicator of health. Determining water quality requires expensive tests. In this research, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Classification And Regression Tree (CART) algorithms have been evaluated. To calibrate the techniques, 321 test samples of physical-chemical elements of Cham Anjir station (1969-2021) were used. According to the results of the correlation matrix, Total Hardness (TH) in water and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water were selected to evaluate and select the optimal model. The results of the trend test showed that the concentration of both indicators has increased since 1985. The evaluation indicators of the SVM, showed that the best results of the SVM were obtained in the KernalLinear model and in the CHAID method (CART) algorithm at the 95% combination threshold. 10 rules were presented for estimating TDS, and 119 rules for estimating TH . The Validation of SVM and CART algorithms of observational and estimated data showed that MSE, MAE, R2 coefficients are not different in both SVM and CART models. But the estimations of TH in water and TDS. The amount of RMSE in SVM was less than 10%. Therefore, the SVM obtained better results compared to the CART for estimated data.
Mahmoudreza Tabatabaei; Amin Salehpour Jam; Jamal Mosaffaie
Abstract
In watershed areas, monitoring and assessing erosion and sedimentation processes are crucial, as these processes directly impact the quality and quantity of water resources. The design and construction of advanced systems, such as a specialized geographic information system for the country’s hydrometric ...
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In watershed areas, monitoring and assessing erosion and sedimentation processes are crucial, as these processes directly impact the quality and quantity of water resources. The design and construction of advanced systems, such as a specialized geographic information system for the country’s hydrometric stations, can significantly enhance watershed management research.This study developed a specialized geographic system for managing and analyzing hydrological data using the C# programming language and open-source spatial libraries. The system uses SQLite as a data storage platform and employs Entity Framework 6 (EF6) and LINQ to facilitate data management and extraction. It can perform various spatial and descriptive queries and analyses, as well as statistical analyses and summaries from sedimentation data.The results can be summarized in two sections: the design and construction of the system, and the statistical analysis of sedimentation data from the Aras basin. The statistical analysis of sedimentation data (26,156 recorded data points until 2017) indicates that at the watershed scale, the average daily suspended sediment discharge is 11,814.95 tons per day, the average suspended sediment concentration is 4,185.68 mg per liter, and the average instantaneous flow discharge is 13.16 cubic meters per second.At the study unit scale, the average maximum and minimum suspended sediment discharge correspond to the Jolfa-Duzal unit (code 1105) with 10,312.33 tons per day and the Qareh Ziyaldin unit (code 1108) with 991.96 tons per day, respectively. Additionally, at the hydrometric station scale, the average maximum and minimum daily suspended sediment discharge correspond to the Jolfa station (code 807-19) with 571,697.82 tons per day and the Naur-Exit Neur station (code 0195-19) with 2.82 tons per day.This research aims to develop a national software infrastructure for managing sedimentation data and flow discharge from the country’s hydrometric stations.
Fatemeh Heydari; Foroogh Golkar
Abstract
Climate change has had a significant impact on atmospheric events, including the formation and distribution of clouds. Clouds play a vital role in the Earth's energy balance, and changes in their properties can produce different feedbacks on global warming. The aim of this study is to investigate the ...
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Climate change has had a significant impact on atmospheric events, including the formation and distribution of clouds. Clouds play a vital role in the Earth's energy balance, and changes in their properties can produce different feedbacks on global warming. The aim of this study is to investigate the seasonal spatial- temporal significant changes in Total Cloud Cover (TCC) during six decades over Iran. The TCC variations during spring, autumn, and winter were compared in 6 decades based on gridded data and statistical methods, identifying significant changes over Iran.Monthly reanalysis data of TCC were extracted from ECMWF, ERA5 version, with a spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees. The study period spans 60 years, from 1961 to 2021. Seasonal TCC time series were generated by averaging monthly data (three months per season) over the 60-year period. For each season, decadal TCC values were compared at each grid point. The significance of TCC differences between each decade and the compared decade was determined using the Mann-Whitney test, with random event repetition excluded through the Monte Carlo method with 10,000 iterations at a 95% confidence level. The results indicated that spring TCC significantly increased in the southern and southwestern regions of Iran, while a notable decrease was observed in the northeastern, eastern, and southeastern regions. In autumn, significant changes were limited to small areas in the north, with most regions showing no considerable variation. However, in winter, a widespread reduction in cloud cover was observed over the country, particularly in the Zagros and southwestern regions. This decrease was more pronounced in the sixth decade (2011-2021) compared to previous decades, encompassing regions with moderate to high cloud cover. The findings of this study are highly significant in the context of climate change, particularly regarding the Earth's energy balance and precipitation patterns, which require further investigation.
