Mehdi Ahmadi; Bagher Ghermezcheshmeh
Abstract
In the last decades, greenhouse gases in atmosphere have increased as a result of natural and human activities and thus, earth temperature has increased. Rising global temperature, in turn, leads to significant changes in related fields, especially water resources and agriculture. So, investigating and ...
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In the last decades, greenhouse gases in atmosphere have increased as a result of natural and human activities and thus, earth temperature has increased. Rising global temperature, in turn, leads to significant changes in related fields, especially water resources and agriculture. So, investigating and modeling climate changes can be considered as a very important factor in water resources management planning. Different studies have been done in the field of climate change issues in the world, but, at the moment, AOGCM model is the most reliable tool to generate climate scenarios. It is necessary to downscale AOGCM data using different techniques in station scale and compare linear and nonlinear downscaling models. In liner method SDSM and in nonlinear method ANN programming were used in MATLAB. For investigating the amount of error, mean biomass monthly and annual and for extreme data, variance and for analyzing uncertainty Man-Witney test were used in 95 percent level. Results showed the amount of mean monthly errors are 0.75, 12, 11 and 7 mm in Ghaemshahr, Babolsar, Ghoran Talar and Bandpey in SDSM model and 3, 2, 26 and 4 mm in ANN model and the amount of mean annual errors are 9, 146, 141 and 87 mm in SDSM model and 45, 32, 321 and 48 mm in ANN model (increased or decreased), respectively. Examining the performance of variance showed that ANN model was somewhat better than SDSM model. Also, results of uncertainty for 12 months in Ghaemshar, Babolsar, Quran Talar and Bandpey stations showed 8, 3, 6 and 4 in SDSM model and 4, 2, 2 and 3 in ANN model, respectively. In general, this study showed that in studies on climate change effects on runoff, uncertainty, and when limited data are available, SDSM model should be used and when the aim is investigating the flood and its minimum and maximum estimation, it is better to use ANN model.
Jaber Salehpoor; Afshin Ashrafzadeh; Seyed Ali Moussavi
Abstract
In the present study, the effect of climate change on the flow of the Hablehroud River was assessed, using the HadCM3 general circulation model, the LRAS-WG downscaling model, and the SWAT hydrologic model. First, using the LARS-WG model, the output of HadCM3 model in the period of 2011-2040 was downscaled ...
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In the present study, the effect of climate change on the flow of the Hablehroud River was assessed, using the HadCM3 general circulation model, the LRAS-WG downscaling model, and the SWAT hydrologic model. First, using the LARS-WG model, the output of HadCM3 model in the period of 2011-2040 was downscaled and the necessary data for the SWAT model were obtained. The downscaling results showed that there is no meaningful difference between the future precipitation and the precipitation observed in the base period of 1995-2010. It was also observed that in the A2, B1, and A1B emission scenarios, the mean of minimum temperature will increase by 0.59, 0.47, and 0.43 0C, respectively, and the mean of maximum temperature will increase by 0.51, 0.39, and 0.35 0C. In the next stage, the SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the monthly flow data recorded at Bonkouh gaging station located at the outlet of the basin. The values of the coefficient of determination and Nash-Sutcliffe in validation phase were 0.8 and 0.72, respectively. Introducing the downscaled rainfall and temperature data to the SWAT model, the variation of the basin outflow was simulated in the period of 2011-2040. Results showed that in the three scenarios under study, the annual flow will increase 10.66, 17.72, and 17.52% in comparison to the base period.
Omid Asadi Nalivan; Majid Rahmani; Farzaneh Vakili tajareh; Asghar Bayat
Abstract
IntroductionIdentification of the areas prone to landslides and the risks arising from them is one of the primary measures in natural resource management and development and construction planning. Considering the loss of lives, financial losses and environmental effects, landslides have been one of the ...
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IntroductionIdentification of the areas prone to landslides and the risks arising from them is one of the primary measures in natural resource management and development and construction planning. Considering the loss of lives, financial losses and environmental effects, landslides have been one of the most important natural disasters in the world and especially in our country, which every year plays an increasing role in the destruction of communication roads, pastures, gardens, residential areas, cause erosion and produces a high volume of sediment in the watersheds of the country. These issues have led to the use of data mining models in geological and geotechnical studies. In recent years, the use of geographic information systems and remote sensing along with machine learning methods has created a new step in landslide occurrence zoning and landslide susceptibility maps with appropriate accuracy. The watershed of Karaj Dam is one of the areas prone to landslides due to mountainous and rainy conditions and many construction due to suitable weather conditions and non-standard road construction. The purpose of this research is to prioritize the factors affecting landslides using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt model) and to determine areas with landslide susceptibility potential.Materials and methodsThe Karaj Dam watershed is located in the east of Alborz Province. The highest and lowest average annual rainfall is calculated as 1099 and 608 mm, respectively. In this research, in order to determine the areas with landslide susceptibility, among 11 factors affecting the landslide potential of the area, including height, slope, slope direction, distance from waterway, lithology, rainfall, land use, topographic moisture index, surface curvature, distance from the waterway and the distance from the road, the factors were selected and tested for collinearity with the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) test in SPSS software. From the total of 477 landslides, 70% were randomly classified as test data (334 points) and 30% as validation data (143 points). In this research, the maximum entropy model is used. To determine the most important parameters, the jackknife diagram and the Relative Performance Detection Curve (ROC) were used to determine the predictive power of the model. Landslide points of the studied area were prepared from the database of the General Directorate of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Alborz Province and field visits.Results and discussionThe results showed that there is no co-linearity between the used factors. According to the Jackknife diagram, rainfall layers, distance from the road, lithology and land use were respectively the most important factors influencing the occurrence of landslides in the study area. The relative performance detection curve showed the accuracy of 90% (excellent) of the maximum entropy method in the training phase and 83% (very good) in the validation phase. According to the final landslide susceptibility map, more than 35% of the study area has high and very high landslide susceptibility potential.ConclusionAccording to the obtained results, it can be said that the MaxEnt model has a high ability to determine landslide-susceptible areas, and due to the high speed and accuracy of the model, it is suggested that it be used in similar research, especially in developing countries. The reason for the lack of facilities and financial resources, as well as the time-consuming nature of identifying landslide sensitive areas, should be used. In addition to natural factors, some human factors such as road construction play an important role in the occurrence of landslides, and in order to reduce the relative risks, it is necessary to avoid changing the ecosystem as a driver of natural disasters. In general, it can be stated that the watershed of Karaj Dam has a high potential for landslide susceptibility, that most of the susceptible areas are located near roads, and because there are many human interventions in these areas. Landslide sensitivity has increased. It is suggested to combine geographic information systems with maximum entropy method in order to determine areas with landslide susceptibility, especially in developing countries like Iran, where access to landslide information and data is limited by time and cost. The results of this research can be used in decision-making and preparation of provincial land as well as urban planning and will play a significant role in preventing and reducing damage caused by landslides.
Hamzeh Noor; Mahmood Arabkhedri; yahya parvizi
Abstract
IntroductionImplementation of watershed management measures in Iran to reduce the damage caused by the misuse of natural resources has begun many years ago and is still ongoing. Evaluating the performance of previous remedial work is essential for better planning of future watershed management projects. ...
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IntroductionImplementation of watershed management measures in Iran to reduce the damage caused by the misuse of natural resources has begun many years ago and is still ongoing. Evaluating the performance of previous remedial work is essential for better planning of future watershed management projects. In this regard, due to the monitoring of soil loss, runoff and sedimentation at slope and watershed scales, a suitable platform has been provided to assess the effects of watershed management measures. Material and methodsThe Kakhk paired watershed with an area of 217 ha is located at a distance of 300 km from Mashhad City and 35 km southwest of Gonabad City.The Kakhk paired watershed consists of two sub-watershds, the control and the treatment. A series of biological and structural watershed management measures have been implemented in the treatment sub-watershed. While the control sub-watershed is exploited according to the custom of the region. In this research, the impact of different watershed management measures on the soil loss, sediment yield and hydrology in the Kakhk paired watershed were evaluated. For this purpose, the recorded data of suspended sediment and discharge at the watershed scale, as well as the data of soil loss (by standard plots and erosion pins) and runoff (standard plots) were analyzed at the hillslope scale. Results and discussionThe results at plot scale showed that the average annual soil loss of the two treatment and control sub-watersheds is 0.05 and 0.27 ton.ha-1.y-1, respectively. These results indicate that the soil loss in the control sub-watershed is 536% higher than the treatment sub-watershed. The amount of runoff yield in the control sub-watershed was calculated to be 138% more than the treatment sub-watershed. At watershed scale, the results showed that the total amount of suspended sediment output from the control and treatment watersheds is 379 and 85 tons, respectively, which indicates the average specific sediment of 0.4 and 0.1 ton.ha-1 in the control and treatment watersheds, respectively. The volume of runoff in the control sub-watershed is 1.3 times more than treatment sub-watershed. On the other hand, despite the difference between the treatment and control sub-watersheds in soil loss, run-off production and sediment yield, the role of maximum events in soil erosion and runoff production in both sub-watersheds is very significant. So that one to three erosive events in both studied sub-watershes are responsible for more than 80% of the soil loss in the slopes and the production of runoff and sediment yield of watersheds. ConclusionThe results showed that a total of 136,000 m3 of runoff storage and 294 ton of suspended sediment control were achieved as a result of watershed operations in the treatment sub-watershed. Therefore, it can be stated that the watershed management measures carried out in the treatment sub-watershed on the one hand have reduced soil erosion and runoff production on the slopes compared to the control sub-watershed. This action has been done through increasing the vegetation, increasing the roughness of the land surface, reducing the carrying capacity of the flow and settling the materials being transported. Further, the flow from the slopes enters the waterway and is kept by watershed management structures, and as a result, the sediment yield and volume of runoff in the treatment sub-watershed is less than the control sub-watershed.
Rahim kazemi; Bagher Ghermezcheshmeh; Reza Bayat
Abstract
IntroductionResearch on low flow is important, not only from a fundamental point of view but also in terms of sustainable water resource management. Optimum water resources management is one of the most crucial challenges of the 21st century, and due to population growth and climate change, water supply ...
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IntroductionResearch on low flow is important, not only from a fundamental point of view but also in terms of sustainable water resource management. Optimum water resources management is one of the most crucial challenges of the 21st century, and due to population growth and climate change, water supply in the future will probably depend on sustainable water sources. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) introduces low flow as a flow of rivers that continues during the dry period of the climate. Low flow is affected by climate changes, topography, geology, soil, and human activities. The geographical location and climatic conditions of Iran cause a lack of rainfall and water scarcity. Therefore, the recognition and analysis of sustainable water resources is the main component in the surface water resources management of Iran. This research has been done with the aim of investigating the characteristics of scientific publications regarding low flow research in Iran and the world and providing a perspective of the current situation and direction of future research.Materials and methodsThe data relating to low flow research in environmental; agricultural and biological sciences were retrieved from the Science direct database in the period 1999 to 2022 and SCImago Journal Rank indicator (SJR) from https://www.scimagojr.com as well as scientific information database of Jihad Daneshgahi (SID) and data from Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc). A total of 22875 publications were obtained and with following aspects analysed intensively:(1) Distribution of international low flow-related publications (2) low flow-related publications from Iran; (2) distribution of subject categories; (3) core journals; (4) distribution of Iranian articles related to low flow; (5) frequency of low flow-related articles in Middle East and countries around Iran; (6) research trends. Bibliometric techniques, including citation analysis, five-year impact factor, JCR classification, coverage period and h-index were used to evaluate and interpretation of the results.Results and discussionThe results showed that the general trend of global scientific publications in low-flow research was with a positive slope and a growth rate of 1.52%. Also, the trend of international publications from Iran had a positive slope with a 0.94 coefficient of determination and a growth rate of 1.60%. The results of the subject classification of publications at the global level showed that most publications with 85.75% belong to research papers and the least amount to conference papers and editorials. International papers originating from Iran were of the first order of importance to publications with 90.04%, which has a larger share of the total papers than global papers. The results of the analysis of the most important keywords related to low flow showed that more than 72% of the titles of papers and theses were assigned to "base flow" and "flow duration curve (FDC) keywords ".ConclusionsThis research is a systematic bibliographic analysis of texts related to low flow research publication. By summarizing and analysing the growth curve of publications, it can be concluded that the total number of international publications related to low flow research corresponds to the theoretical fitting line and shows the proportionality of the potential of low flow research in the world with the actual amount. The general result of the analysis of international publications from Iran shows a high potential for low flow research in Iran and indicates a change in the attention of the Iranian scientific community to the publication of articles on the topic of low flow at the international level.
Alireza Ghaemi; Mahdi Azhdary Moghaddam; Sarina Keikha
Abstract
Introduction
Rivers are known as the vital resources of nature and the main foundations of sustainable development. Therefore, the quantity and quality of river water are considered valuable parameters. The increase in agricultural and industrial activities has reduced the quality of water resources ...
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Introduction
Rivers are known as the vital resources of nature and the main foundations of sustainable development. Therefore, the quantity and quality of river water are considered valuable parameters. The increase in agricultural and industrial activities has reduced the quality of water resources in many places. The discharge of sewage, garbage and chemical fertilizers in the villages along the rivers is one of the most important sources of water quality pollution. The amount of urban and agricultural wastewater entering this surface has caused an increase in the amount of pollutants, so that in the period of 1993 to the end of 2017, the average amounts the three pollutants of total dissolved solid, chlorine and sodium in Varand Station are respectively 507.49, 2.16 and 2.47. Therefore, accurate estimation of water quality parameters is a basic requirement for water quality management, human health, public consumption and domestic use.
Materials and methods
Tajan River basin with an area of about 4147.22 square kilometers has an average river discharge and annual rainfall of 20 cubic meters per second and 539 mm respectively. The highest and lowest elevations of this River basin have been reported as 3728 and 26 meters, respectively. Various human activities such as agriculture and dam construction are carried out in this river. Therefore, evaluationg the water quality of this river basin is required. In this research, the combination of two Gene Expression Programming Models (GEP) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with a data preprocessing algorithm called Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) was used to estimate one of the important parameters of water quality called Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). For this purpose, in this research, some of qualitative parameters including sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfate bicarbonate, sulfuric acid and chlorine, which were measured in the period of 1993 to the end of 2017 at Varand station, were used to estimate the concentration of total dissolved solids.
Results and discussion
At first, the results of the observation data during the sampling period indicated that the TDS values in about 80% of the samples were in the range of 300 to 600 mg.liter-1, which reprsented the good quality of the water of this river. In order to compare the performance of independent and integrated approaches in estimating the quality parameters of the Tajan River in the training and testing stages, the evaluation benchmarks including Correlation Coefficient (R), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Deviation of Error (MBE), Nash Coefficient (NSE), Objective Function (OBJ) and RSD ratio were applied. The results of this study demonestrated that the integrated model of Gene Expression Programming and Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD-GEP) with the lowest error (RSD=0.23 and RMSE=24.41) was the most accurate model in TDS estimating compared to other models such as GEP (RSD=0.44 and RMSE=47.27). In addition, the integrated model of Artificial Neural Network and Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD-ANN) with RMSE=36.64 and R=0.95 was stood at the second rank. Additionally, the outcomes of the Objective Function (OBJ) represented that EMD-GEP model could achieved the lowest OBJ value (15.92) than other techniques in the TDS modeling. While, the highest value of the OBJ=29.34 belonged to the GEP model.
Conclusion
ANN and GEP methods were applied in this research to estimate TDS concentarion in the Tajan River. After that, to increase the accuracy of the models, EMD technique was recruited to decompose the time series dataset. The results obtained from the integrated models were evaluated using some error statistical benchmarks such as correlation coefficient, root mean square error. The results showed that the EMD method could play an essential role in increasing the ANN and GEP performance so as to estimate this water quality parameter in Varand station. So that EMD-GEP and EMD-ANN could reduce the RMSE error by 48.35% and 14.02%, respectively, compared to the two independent models of GEP and ANN.
Taher farhadinejad; iraj vayskarami; Mehran Zand
Abstract
Introduction
Drought can have serious negative effects on the quality of water needed for irrigated agriculture. The geological formations of the region increase the concentration of minor and rare toxic elements in the waters, and on the other hand, human activities lead to water pollution in the ...
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Introduction
Drought can have serious negative effects on the quality of water needed for irrigated agriculture. The geological formations of the region increase the concentration of minor and rare toxic elements in the waters, and on the other hand, human activities lead to water pollution in the nearby areas. In this research, the effect of drought on the quality of surface water, the effect of various factors such as geological formations and the decrease or increase of rainfall and air temperature on the quality of water resources, how the quality of water changes, determining the limits of water consumption in the drinking sector and agriculture should be paid.
Materials and methods
The Tirah River Basin with an area of 3243.6 square kilometers is considered as one of the sub-basins of the Dez River and a subset of the Karun Basin. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standard StreamFlow Index (SSI) and Decimal Index (DI) were used to calculate standard drought indices. Elements and compounds of electrical conductivity (Ec), Total dissolved solids (TDS), pH and Anions of chlorine (Cl-), Sulfate (SO42-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium cations (Mg) were investigated. To draw the pattern of droughts, 3 hydrometric stations of Teng Mohammad Haji (upstream), Rahimabad Silakhor (middle) and Tir-Droud (outlet) stations were tested.
Results and discussion
The most severe hydrological droughts with a duration of 2 years and a minimum SSI value of -1.23 in the Teng Mohammad Haji Station in the water years of 2009 and 2010 and the Tir-Droud Station with a duration of 4 years (-1.19) and the Rahimabad Silakhor Station with a duration of 3 years (-1.16) occurred for the water years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The analysis of discharge and precipitation data of Teir sub-basins showed that between the discharge and precipitation (SPI and SSI) of Tang Mohammadhaji and Rahimabad Stations, there was an average positive correlation at a significant level of 0.05 (R2=0.526). Examining the relationship between annual discharge and water quality parameters showed that there was a negative correlation for most parameters such as TDS, EC, chlorine, the total of anions and cations, so that the maximum concentration of quality parameters occurred in droughts. In Tang Mohammadhaji Station, the highest percentage of changes was related to sodium and chlorine, respectively, with 62.55 and 39.70% in dry years compared to the long-term average. The results of this research showed that the percentage of changes in calcium, magnesium, sodium, carbonate and chloride
increased in dry years compared to the long-term average in the studied stations in the Tirah River Basin. All the stations in the Tirah Basin have passed the period of relatively dry hydrological drought (-0.84 to -1.28) and none of them have suffered severe hydrological drought.
Conclusion
The analysis of discharge and precipitation data of dark sub-basins shows that between discharge and precipitation (SPI and SSI) of Tang Mohammad Haji Station, which is an upstream sub-basin of dark, there is an average positive correlation at a significant level of 0.05 and in Rahim Abad Station, which is in the middle of the basin It is located in Tire, and according to Pearson, it has a correlation at a significant level of 0.05 at the exit station of Tire basin, no significant correlation is observed between discharge and precipitation variables, which can be caused by snowfall and the persistence of snow in the heights from the previous water year, the construction of Meruk Dam. In the upper part of the basin, as well as the water intake of Bishehdalan Silakhor Wetland in droughts and abundant water harvesting from the Tirah River for agriculture. The upstream basin of Tang Mohammadhaji Station is completely calcareous, which has caused changes in parameters of calcium, TDS, EC, etc. In Rahimabad Silakhor Station and Tire outlet, half of the area of the basin is dedicated to intrusive rocks such as granite and granodiorite, which increases potassium and calcium. In the studied stations in Tirah River Basin, the percentage of changes related to calcium, magnesium and sodium, and carbonate and chlorine anions have increased in dry years compared to the long-term average. In general, it can be concluded that drought can have negative effects on water quality parameters in Tirah River Basin.
sefatollah rahmani; Mohammad Mazhari; Jafar Tahmasabi
Abstract
Introduction
In most of the countries of the world, both developed and under-developed, applied and developmental research in various economic and social sectors, including agriculture and natural resources is very important. To implement executive projects based on the results of research over the ...
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Introduction
In most of the countries of the world, both developed and under-developed, applied and developmental research in various economic and social sectors, including agriculture and natural resources is very important. To implement executive projects based on the results of research over the past years based on predetermined goals, financial, resources and relatively appropriate facilities in the agriculture and natural resources sector, including the watershed sector, have been considered and spent. Nevertheless, it has always been accompanied by many discussions from supporters and opponents. This article is the result of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of watershed management projects implemented based on the results of research in the Chandab Watershed of Tehran Province. which includes effective, flood distribution, rain catchment surface system, catchments, underground dam, water supply channels, flood expansion channels, and sediment catchment in this area. To investigate this issue, research projects based on solving the problems and issues of the study area, and the results in the form of watershed management plans and projects to control runoff and soil erosion, improve the condition of vegetation, and finally improve the economic and social status of watershed residents in the operational area have been implemented.
Materials and methods
To investigate this issue, research projects based on solving the problems and issues governing the study area, and their results in the form of watershed management plans and projects to control runoff and soil erosion, improve the condition of vegetation, and finally the improvement of the economic and social status of watershed residents in the region has been operationalized and implemented their identification and effectiveness in achieving the set goals of watershed management have been studied and analyzed from an economic and social point of view. This study is a descriptive and descriptive type, and the data required for the research was collected in the field by filling out the questionnaire from the residents and beneficiaries of the studied watershed and reviewing the financial reports for the expenses incurred. Before completing the questionnaire, its reliability and validity were measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The estimated alpha coefficient was 0.87, which indicates integration and coordination in the framework of the questionnaire. Then, the present value of the cost and income during the period was estimated. The benefit-cost method (B/C), rate of return and profit, satisfaction level, and economic efficiency index have been tested and analyzed.
Results and discussion
The results of the research showed that the farmers and villagers living in the studied watershed are fully satisfied with the implementation of the underground dam projects and watershed flood distribution catchments, and the implementation of these projects in the state of the watershed in terms of improving vegetation, control Floods, development of agriculture, animal, husbandry and improvement of income and livelihood of villagers have had significant positive effects. The selected projects implemented are economically and socially effective and have economic and social, justification. Thus, the benefit-cost ratio is estimated at 1.85 units, and the economic efficiency index is at 0.85 units.
Conclusion
The study results show that the watershed projects implemented in the study area are economically and socially effective. From a social, point of view, most of the users living in the studied area are fully satisfied with the implementation of watershed management projects. Considering the economic and social justification of watershed management projects, it is recommended to develop the implementation of watershed management operations in this and other watershed areas. For the local, people to benefit from the achievements of these projects and also to satisfy the local, people from the previous projects, it is suggested that these projects be carried out within the boundaries of the land of the beneficiaries so that the maximum participation of the beneficiaries is realized. To provide the possibility of entrusting the maintenance of watershed operations in watershed areas to the local, people and users with a specific and defined mechanism.
Mahin Kalehhouei; Raoof Mostafazadeh; Abazar Esmali Ouri; Rahmani Naneh Karan, Fardin; Fazeli, Alireza; Nazila Alaei; Zeinab Hazbavi
Abstract
Introduction
The rainfall system of a major part of Iran is mediterranean, where the precipitation amount during the vegetation period is low. In addition, the occurrence of precipitation in the non-vegetation period or beginning of the vegetation period, which does not cover the surface of the earth ...
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Introduction
The rainfall system of a major part of Iran is mediterranean, where the precipitation amount during the vegetation period is low. In addition, the occurrence of precipitation in the non-vegetation period or beginning of the vegetation period, which does not cover the surface of the earth well, is one of the important reasons for water erosion in Iran. Since vegetation has a special role in soil erosion control and runoff retention, any change in the vegetation structure and pattern, which expresses the landscape pattern and function, can have a significant effect on changing hydrological processes. Therefore, the assessment of soil and water loss and the quantification of its relationship with landscape metrics provide key information for the development of water and soil quality management strategies.
Materials and methods
The current research was conducted to investigate the hydrological component changes with landscape metrics on 2 m2 plots using simulated rainfall at an intensity of 32 mm.h-1 in a part of rangelands of Ardabil County. At first, considering the type and percentage of vegetation as the main variable, eight groups of vegetation composition along with one group without vegetation (control) were considered with three replications. The composition (and percentage) of the vegetation from the first to the eighth groups, respectively, include low-height graminea predominance (45), the composition of dense bushes with graminea (43), bushes with low-height and medium-distribution (37), sparse bushes mostly with low and medium height (31), the composition of sparse bushes with graminea (56), dense bushes in upper parts (54), low-height bushes with very low distribution (15), and dense bushes with almost uniform distribution (56). After measuring the runoff and sediment at the plot outlets, different hydrological components were calculated. Then, plots with nine different vegetation combinations were imaged in three replicates before and after rainfall simulation. After transferring the images prepared from the plots to the Arc/Map10.8 environment, nine important landscape metrics were calculated.
Results and discussion
Changes in the mean patch density (4.43-26.90), largest patch index (54.16-86.75), edge density (17.12-107.38), landscape shape index (1.50-4.47), mean shape area (4.16-37.46), mean Euclidean nearest neighbor distance (0.00-1.65), landscape division index (0.19-2.31), mean patch shape index (1.24-22.85), and the effective mesh size (15.80-43.96) indicate their different influence from different percentage and composition of vegetation cover. Spearman's correlation matrix analysis showed a nonsignificant relationship between the mean soil loss, runoff volume, runoff coefficient, and sediment concentration with landscape metrics (r<0.26 and p-value>0.10). The small scale of the studied plots, the lack of diversity in the vegetation composition, and the uniformity in terms of vegetation height can be cited as the reasons for the lack of correlation. In general, groups with vegetation values above 50% had a better condition in terms of LPI, AREA_MN, and MESH, which indicates more connectivity and less degradation. The increase in vegetation cover and spatial heterogeneity above the landscape surface can change the path of sediment transport, reduce sediment connectivity, and lead to a decrease in sedimentation.
Conclusion
The obtained results are applicable in explaining the appropriate reference to optimize water and soil protection measures on the watershed scale. However, It is suggested that similar and more comprehensive research be done in different scales of erosion plots and even in the landscape (slope) scale so that by considering a wide range of vegetation, topography, climatic conditions, as well as successive rains, it is possible to compare the results, optimum selection of study scale, and finally planning to manage and protect vegetation and water and soil resources.
Ariyan Matboo; Vahedberdi Sheikh; Ali Mohammadian Behbahani; Arash Zare Garizi
Abstract
Introduction
The hills surrounding the international wetlands of Almagol and Ajigol in the Golestan Province are exposed to severe erosion and every year a large amount of sediments from these hillslopes discharge into these wetlands. Whilst a large extent of these surrounding hills, covered with Biological ...
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Introduction
The hills surrounding the international wetlands of Almagol and Ajigol in the Golestan Province are exposed to severe erosion and every year a large amount of sediments from these hillslopes discharge into these wetlands. Whilst a large extent of these surrounding hills, covered with Biological Soil Crusts (BSC), has been destroyed due to lack of awareness of their values, sensitivity and ecological functions. Improving soil properties, preventing direct contact of raindrops with the soil surface, all indicate the important role of BSC in hydrological processes and soil loss control.
Materials and methods
In this study, the role of BSC in the hydrological processes of dry areas was investigated using a rain simulator. After a field survey and evaluation of the area, different treatments including biological crust with a dominant lichen cover, biological crust with a dominant moss cover, an area covered with vascular plants, an area without cover and areas covered with a combination of moss and lichen were selected to perform rain simulation and compare their effects on the hydrological processes of the selected region. Rain simulation was done in 2×1 meter plots for 30 minutes and intensity of 82 mm per hour. The start time of runoff and the volume of produced runoff at the outlet of the plot were measured and recorded. Also, at five-minute intervals from the beginning of the simulation process, 500 ml runoff samples were collected and transferred to the laboratory for testing in order to estimate the sediment concentration and mass. In addition, the depth of the wetting front caused by the infiltration of rain was measured at the beginning, middle and end sections of the plots.
Results and discussion
The results of rainfall-runoff simulations at a 2×1 m2 plot scale with a rainfall intensity of 82 mm.h-1 and a duration of 30 minutes plots, showed that the average mass of sediments from plots with the dominant cover of moss (104 g), lichen (91 g), lichen-moss combination (176 g) and bush (99 g) was significantly higher than bare soil (1133 grams). Therefore, in case of destruction of the existing BSC and the formation of bare lands, the sedimentation rate will increase by more than 5 times. A significant decrease in water infiltration into BSC causes a significant increase of 30-40% in runoff generation compared to the treatment covered with bushes and a significant increase of 8-18% compared to the bare soil treatment.
Conclusions
by reducing soil loss and sediment concentration, BSC cause the production and transfer of high-quality runoff to the wetlands and as a result maintain the ecological function and health of the region’s wetlands. The results of this research show the positive influence of BSC on the hydrological and ecological performance of arid areas in the north of Gorgan Plain and protection of Ramsar-listed wetlands in the region.
Hossain shirani; Anis Asadi; ُSomayeh Sadr; Ali Asghar besalatpour; Isa esfandiarpoor
Abstract
Introduction
SWAT model is a suitable tool for simulating hydrological processes. This model requires many inputs that often cannot be measured directly and is considered one of the main sources of uncertainty in these models. The recalibration process can reduce the uncertainty in the model results ...
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Introduction
SWAT model is a suitable tool for simulating hydrological processes. This model requires many inputs that often cannot be measured directly and is considered one of the main sources of uncertainty in these models. The recalibration process can reduce the uncertainty in the model results by adjusting and adapting these inputs. The researches showed that calibrating a hydrological model by using the common automatic CV calibrating algorithms will not provide proper accuracy in the prediction of hydrological variables during the validation period, so PSO algorithm was used to calibrate the SWAT model. Since there is no mathematical and logical rule to determine the best combination of PSO algorithm parameters and these combinations are selected based on trial and error and among many different combinations, therefore trial and error based methods are very time-consuming and sometimes impossible. In this research, Taguchi method was used to determine the best combination of PSO algorithm parameters.
Materials and methods
In this research, the ability to use the SWAT model to simulate monthly runoff in the Javanmardi Watershed, one of the main sub-basins of the Lordegan Watershed with an area of 380 square kilometers, was investigated. In this study, the PSO algorithm parameters, including the number of simulations (A), the number of repetitions (B), the speed calculation weight (C) and the movement parameter (D), were defined in four levels. Then, these parameters were designed and implemented according to the experiments in the L16 orthogonal array (using the Taguchi experiments design method). The performance scale used to evaluate the algorithms was RPD (Relative Percentage Deviation). Considering the variable nature of the response in this study, the S/N index "the lower the better" was used to analyze the Taguchi test results. The selection of arrays and calculations were done in Minitab 16 software.
Results and discussion
In the sensitivity analysis stage, which was performed before the model recalibration, among the 28 parameters studied in this research, the model showed sensitivity to the changes of 22 parameters, and they were identified as variables influencing the simulation of runoff in Javanmardi Watershed. The results showed that the parameter of the runoff curve number (CN) is the most important factor and the parameters of soil apparent density in the wet state (SOL_BD) and average water usable by the plant (SOL_AWC) are among the most important factors controlling the flow rate in the study basin, respectively. Based on the results simulated by the PSO algorithm, it was found that the SWAT model has an acceptable accuracy for estimating the monthly runoff in the study area. So, in the recalibration phase, the r-factor and p-factor indices were 1.23 and 0.88, respectively, and the explanatory and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.77 and 0.75, respectively. In the validation stage, the r-factor and p-factor indexes were 1.31 and 0.84, respectively and the explanatory and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients were 0.72 and 0.73, respectively. In this study, the best combination resulting from the application of Taguchi method for the parameters of the number of simulations, the number of repetitions, the speed calculation weight and the appropriate parameters in the PSO algorithm were determined as 40, 100, 0.2 and 0.15 respectively (A4B4C4D3).
Conclusion
The results show that the SWAT model has an acceptable accuracy for estimating the monthly runoff in the Jawanmardi Watershed, and the PSO method is an effective algorithm in calibrating and determining the uncertainty of the model in this basin, and the use of the Taguchi test design method is a suitable way to determine the best combination of PSO algorithm parameters is for researchers who use this method to optimize the SWAT model.
ghobad rostamizad; Mojtaba Pakparvar; parviz abdinejhad; Zahra Abdollahi; jafar khalafi
Abstract
Introduction
Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the most important factors in the hydrological cycle and is a key determinant of energy equations on the earth’s surface. evapotranspiration estimates are important for hydrology, irrigation, forest and rangeland, and water resources management. The ...
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Introduction
Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the most important factors in the hydrological cycle and is a key determinant of energy equations on the earth’s surface. evapotranspiration estimates are important for hydrology, irrigation, forest and rangeland, and water resources management. The evapotranspiration drives the soil water-energy balance which is largely used in general circulation models and climate modelling. Consequently, river water flow forecasting, crop yield forecasting, irrigation management systems, river/lake water quality are all dependent on evapotranspiration levels. For this reason, it is essential to accurately estimate the water budget. Numerous models have been developed to estimate evapotranspiration using remote sensing methods. The review of recent research shows that remote sensing and the use of satellite images have a high ability to estimate the amount of actual evapotranspiration.
Material and method
The aim of this study is calibrating the METRIC algorithm in estimating evapotranspiration in the Sohrin-Qaracheryan Plain, which is affected by flood spreading. This method has been used by many researchers around the world to estimate evapotranspiration. On the other hand, estimating the actual evapotranspiration is of great importance in the plains affected by the flood, especially in the Sohrin-Qaracherian Plain’s flood spreading. Therefore, in this research was conducted to estimate evapotranspiration using the metric algorithm in the Sohrin-Qaracherian Plain, for the optimization management of water resources in the region and regions with similar conditions. In this research, were used of the daily and hourly meteorological data of Zanjan Airport synoptic station from 2020 to 2021. These the data included minimum and maximum temperature, minimum and maximum humidity, wind speed average, sunshine hours and air pressure. To check the application of metric algorithm, were downloaded Landsat 8 images for 2020-2021 years and were done necessary corrections and preprocessing on them. Landsat images are available at 16-day intervals with a spatial resolution of 30 m and were obtained from the United States Geological Survey website (http://glovis.usgs.gov). After the images processing, is obtained the albedo, surface emissivity, land surface temperature, plant indicators, incoming-outgoing radiation fluxes, net radiation flux and the soil heat flux. Next, the sensible heat flux is calculated by determining the hot and cold pixels. Finally, evapotranspiration maps are plotted. In addition, for a better comparison of the results, were compared of the layers related to vegetation index include soil heat flux and land surface temperature in the different stages of the growth period. After extracting these indices, the evapotranspiration map was extracted using ENVI software.
Result and discussion
Results show that daily evapotranspiration increases is directly related with increase in vegetation density. at the initial of the growth period, the range of evapotranspiration is estimated between 0.08 and 4.97 mm.d-1, while this value in the middle and late of the growing season is estimated in the range of 0.086 to 5.56 and 0.59 to 9.57 mm.d-1 respectively. Based on the results of this research evapotranspiration obtained from the soil water balance model and METRIC model were estimated as 24115 and 25648 m3, respectively. The results validation of evapotranspiration obtained from the metric model was compared with the actual evaporation and transpiration obtained from the soil water balance model, and the error coefficient was obtained equal to 5.97%.
Conclusion
According to the results of this research, it was determined that the use of energy balance models using the science of remote sensing provides the possibility of estimating evaporation and transpiration regionally. On the other hand, the calculation error percentage shows that the metric algorithm is accurate enough to estimate ET in the studied area.
Ardeshir Mesbah; Esmail Karamidehkordi; Shadali Tohidloo; Amin Salehpour Jam; Tofigh Saadi
Abstract
Iran has always been one of the most vulnerable places in the world against environmental hazards due to its special spatial-spatial structures. The aim of this research is to review the traces of resilience of natural hazards in Iran with an emphasis on the hazards of floods, droughts, land degradation ...
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Iran has always been one of the most vulnerable places in the world against environmental hazards due to its special spatial-spatial structures. The aim of this research is to review the traces of resilience of natural hazards in Iran with an emphasis on the hazards of floods, droughts, land degradation and combined researches. This study was carried out using a conceptual methodology and using a systematic analysis of related researches conducted in the country in the form of articles, treatises and dissertations included in selected databases inside the country. In this research, using conceptual analysis, the data were analyzed thematically. Although a handful of studies on resilience against natural hazards had been conducted in Iran before the 2010s, these resilience studies, especially in rural areas, have a short lifespan. After the scientific refinement of 1742 scientific documents from the beginning of 2010s, fifty seven related articles and theses were extracted and analyzed. The results showed that the most studies conducted in the field of resilience were in the field of drought and the least studies were conducted in the field of land degradation studies. In the researches carried out in the field of flood, the social dimension received the most attention and the institutional dimension received the least attention. In the field of drought, the economic dimension and the institutional dimension respectively had the most and the least attention in the researches conducted in this field. In the field of land degradation and combined research, the physical dimension was the most important. By identifying the important components of society's resilience against natural hazards, it is possible to improve crisis management, reduce damages and effectively plan development and educational projects at the country level.
Majid Kazemzadeh; Zahra Noori; Mohammad Jahantigh
Abstract
Occurrence of avalanches in mountainous areas is one of the most important natural hazards that cause a lot of human and financial losses. The study of affecting factors on avalanche occurrence and simulation is very important to manage this phenomenon. In this study, the affecting factors on the occurrence ...
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Occurrence of avalanches in mountainous areas is one of the most important natural hazards that cause a lot of human and financial losses. The study of affecting factors on avalanche occurrence and simulation is very important to manage this phenomenon. In this study, the affecting factors on the occurrence of snow avalanche (terrestrial and meteorological factors) and its simulation have been studied using the RAMMS simulation model in the Central Alborz Velayat Rood (Dizin Road), Alborz Province. Topographic and geomorphological factors such as slope, aspect, curvature, topographic position index (TPI), terrain roughness index (TRI) and topographic wetness index (TWI) using 6 ×6 cm2 pixel size of digital elevation model (DEM) were prepared by using a drone. Meteorological factors such as rainfall, temperature and wind were also considered. Then, using RAMMS simulation model, avalanche components such as avalanche speed, pressure and height were estimated in the study area. The results showed that the amount of slope and aspect as a topographic indicator have a great impact on the formation and occurrence of the snow avalanche. The largest part of the region with an area of 5.7 hectares (54.6% of the study area) with a northeast aspect and slope of 60 to 120%, the accumulation and track areas, has the greatest potential for avalanche. Also, the results of RAMMS simulation model showed that the average speed and maximum avalanche speed in the region were 5.3 m/s and 16 m/s. The average effective avalanche pressure was 7 and the maximum avalanche pressure in the region was 45 KPa. Estimation of avalanche height in the region also showed that the average avalanche height in the runout area (residential areas) was 4.5 meters and the maximum avalanche height in the region was 10 meters, which is classified as a large avalanche.
majid khazayi; Iman Saleh; reza bayat; Shokr allah Absallan
Abstract
The concept of water productivity is to produce the best and most products by spending the lower amount of water. in this study water productivity was investigated with field surveys, field measurements and remote sensing analysis. For this purpose, in the first stage, water resources condition of the ...
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The concept of water productivity is to produce the best and most products by spending the lower amount of water. in this study water productivity was investigated with field surveys, field measurements and remote sensing analysis. For this purpose, in the first stage, water resources condition of the Basht aquifer investigated. in the next step, the cultivated area of Basht aquifer was investigated using Sentinel-2 satellite images in Google Earth Engine. Then, the agricultural condition of the aquifer investigated through questionnaire by farmers and experts. In the next step, the water requirement of the current cultivation pattern was calculated by the Penman-Monteith method. Finally, by evaluating the products in terms of productivity indicators, the water productivity of different products was determined. Penman-Monteith method calculations indicated that the water requirements of the aquifer dominant crops, including Citrus fruits, wheat, barley, corn, rapeseed, watermelon, branches, legumes and alfalfa respectively were 9170, 5630, 4821, 7863, 5411, 9291, 20234, 5225, 14083 cubic meters per hectare, respectively. In total, the amount of water consumed by the agricultural products in aquifer Basht is 45 million cubic meters, that approximately equivalent to 1 cubic meter per square meter of the aquifer cultivation area and and this amount is much more than the aquifer agriculture programmable water (17 million cubic meters).
Alijan Abkar; hamzeh saeediyan
Abstract
The use of people in the implementation of natural resource schemes ensures the success of these schemes and can be very useful for the natural resources available in watersheds and stakeholders. In this study, the number of cooperative companies, rural development committee, micro funds and rural funds ...
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The use of people in the implementation of natural resource schemes ensures the success of these schemes and can be very useful for the natural resources available in watersheds and stakeholders. In this study, the number of cooperative companies, rural development committee, micro funds and rural funds in the whole watershed of Yazdanabad was obtained. Then, identification of different village’s distribution in Yazdanabad watershed was done and the activities implemented in them were investigated. Then, the meetings held by PRA method in the villages of Yazdanabad watershed were studied and the comparison of NGOs before and after implementation of the comprehensive natural resources management plan was carried out and analyzed. The results showed that there are 3 cooperative companies and 4 rural funds in Yazdanabad watershed and 16 development committees are active in this area, almost every village has a development committee and there are also 2 micro funds in Yazdanabad watershed. Moreover, the results of the research showed that the most executive activities in all villages located in Yazdanabad watershed were the formation of rural development committee and holding meetings with natural resources laws and regulations.
Yayah Parvizi; Zahra Gerami; Mahmood Arabkhedri
Abstract
The degradation of soil structure and reduced water permeability are indicators of soil destruction, contributing to diminished stability, compromised production quality, and environmental issues. To counteract soil degradation, soil conservation methods are widely employed to modify soil and water processes, ...
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The degradation of soil structure and reduced water permeability are indicators of soil destruction, contributing to diminished stability, compromised production quality, and environmental issues. To counteract soil degradation, soil conservation methods are widely employed to modify soil and water processes, enhancing properties like structure and permeability. However, limited research has evaluated the effectiveness of these methods. This study focuses on assessing the impact of soil management and protection measures on soil structure and permeability in the Rezin watershed of Kermanshah province. Eight restoration and protection techniques were chosen and examined in the study area. Following profile excavation and soil sampling, indices such as MWD, GMD, and WSA >0.25 were measured and computed. The final penetration speed was also assessed. Comparative analysis of MWD, GMD, WSA >0.25, and final infiltration rates between soil protection operations and control areas was conducted using a T-test for independent samples via SPSS software. Results indicated that the lowest MWD indices, at 0.15 and 0.35 mm, were associated with land leveling and planting, while the highest, at 1.9, 1.8, and 1.6 mm, were linked to 20- and 10-year gardens and forest areas, respectively. Notably, fodder operations and 10-year garden construction exhibited the highest WSA >0.25 index, indicating the formation of coarse and stable soil aggregates due to protection operations. Final infiltration rate results demonstrated changes in drylands to seedling cultivation, with 10-year gardens showing the highest increase at 21.8% compared to the control.
Hossein Salehi; Saeid Gharechelou; Saeed Golian; Mohammad Reza Ranjbari; Emad Mahjoobi
Abstract
Simulation of runoff for long-term climatic studies is crucial for effective water resource management in a watershed. However, obtaining long-term input data can be challenging, especially in remote and inaccessible areas. Recently, long-term climatic precipitation data have proven to be highly efficient ...
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Simulation of runoff for long-term climatic studies is crucial for effective water resource management in a watershed. However, obtaining long-term input data can be challenging, especially in remote and inaccessible areas. Recently, long-term climatic precipitation data have proven to be highly efficient in various fields. In this study runoff was simulated in the Hableroud basin from 1992 to 1996 using three climatic rainfall data sources: APHRODITE, PERSIANN-CDR, and ERA5-Land, as well as interpolated rainfall data from rain gauge stations. The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model was employed to simulate runoff with Kling Gupta efficiency (KGE) as a objective function. To assessment the accuracy of precipitation data from each dataset, at the cell scale a network was developed by Inverse distance weighted (IDW) method. The results indicated that the APHRODITE dataset had the highest accuracy while PERSIANN-CDR had the lowest. The KGE for simulated daily runoff with IDW data was 0.78 during the calibration period and 0.76 during the validation period. Evaluating the simulated runoff using climatic precipitation data revealed that PERSIANN-CDR satellite precipitation data was less accurate in detecting precipitation amounts but performed better in simulating runoff. The KGE for this data on a daily scale was 0.64 during the calibration period and 0.77 during the validation period. The KGE for APHRODITE precipitation data, based on IDW data ranked second with values of 0.62 and 0.75 during the calibration and validation periods, respectively. ERA5-Land precipitation data, ranked third with a KGE of 0.50 during the calibration period and 0.66 during the validation period. These findings indicate that climatic precipitation data can be effectively utilized in watershed management studies with low cost and appropriate accuracy, particularly in basins lacking a regular network or long-term data availability.Additionally results demonstrated that the VIC hydrological model performed well in simulating daily and monthly runoff.
shabnam vakili; mahmoud erhami; hossein baghdadi
Abstract
The main purpose of this research is to identify the behavior of rivers in the area of Lashtghan shrimp breeding site and to provide technical solutions to organize and prevent flood risks in it. In order to determine the flood zone for the return period of 25 years, the water height was transferred ...
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The main purpose of this research is to identify the behavior of rivers in the area of Lashtghan shrimp breeding site and to provide technical solutions to organize and prevent flood risks in it. In order to determine the flood zone for the return period of 25 years, the water height was transferred to the ArcGIS. Finally, in order to present the proposed natural bed line, according to the flood zone with a return period of 25 years and satellite images at different time intervals, the proposed bed line was extracted after checking the flood zone with the satellite image. According to the purpose of the project, domain of usage and technical and economic conditions, the earthen dike option was introduced as the selected option for the land protection plan against floods. Then, in Civil 3D software, the protective dike project line was defined, and then according to the 100-year flood water level, the protective dike was designed. The output of the model included the characteristics of the maximum flow level, depth of flow and maximum flow velocity in the study area, according to which it was observed that the built dike has no effect on the surrounding residential areas, the earthen dike in some places due to the topography. The entity acts like a reservoir and the flow does not transfer downstream and is stored behind the dike, which has a volume of about 3 million cubic meters for a flood with a return period of 100 years, which can be done by constructing a borrow pit in the vicinity of the dike transferred a significant part of the water downstream. Finally, the height of the dike, the slope of the body and the width of its crown were calculated and its cost was estimated at 72,925,000,000 million Rials.
