Watershed Engineering and Management

In collaboration with Iranian Watershed Management Association

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Guide for Authors

Receiving the code ORCID

Reviewers

Publons membership guide

Desertification risk zoning using modified Medalus Model and hierarchical clustering method, case study: Sabzevar Badghous Plain

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University

2 PhD Student, Geomorphology, Hakim Sabzevari University

3 Assistant Professor of Hydro Climate, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University

Abstract

Desertification is a problem that is currently affecting many countries in the world, including Iran. This problem is seen not only in arid and semi-arid areas, but also parts of semi-humid areas. The purpose of this study is to investigate and zoning the intensity of desertification using the modified Medalus Model and hierarchical clustering method in the Baqous Plain of Sabzevar. For this purpose, effective criteria in desertification including climate, vegetation, soil, erosion, and selection management, and the geometric mean of the indicators were calculated. Data layers indicators related to each criterion were prepared using the GIS system. This information was scored based on the Medalus method and from the geometric mean of the indicators of each criterion, the final map of the status of each criterion was prepared and from the geometric mean of the criteria, the current map of the desertification of the region was prepared. Results showed that the criteria of vegetation, climate, and erosion were more effective than other factors in desertification of the region and high sensitivity and critical type was matched with the poverty of vegetation and the dryness of the climate, and work units 1 and 2 have the largest area of desertification types with high intensity. The results also showed that 21% of the study area is in the high sensitivity zone, 28% in the high and critical sensitivity zone, 17% in the low sensitivity zone, 28% in the low and critical sensitivity zone, and 6% in low sensitivity zone to erosion. 55.6% of the results of modified Modalus Model were obtained by significant clustering methods. According to the spatial distribution map of desertification intensity extracted from the model, it can be used as an auxiliary tool against desertification and prevent excessive destruction of the region in the future.

Keywords

References
  1. Abbasi, A., P. Amani­ and M. Zareian. 2014. Quantitative assessment of desertification status using MEDALUS Model and GIS, case study: Shamil Plain, Hormozgan Province. RS and GIS for Natural Resource, 5(1): 87-97 (in Persian).
  2. Abd El-Hameed, H., M.R. Marzouk and A.B. Abdo1and. 2020. Assessments of environmental sensitivity to desertification in ber el-abd area, North Sinai, Egypt using Medalus Model. Sinai Journal of Applied Sciences, 9(2): 169-182.
  3. Ahmadi, H. 2008. Applied geomorphology. University of Tehran Press, Second Edition, 76 pages (in Persian).
  4. Arab Ameri, A.R., Kh. Rezaei, M.H. Ramesht and M. Sohrabi. 2019. Quantitative assessment of desertification risk using modified Modalus Model, case study: Shahroud Bastam Watershed. Journal of Watershed Engineering and Management, 6(22): 508-522 (in Persian).
  5. Bedoui, Ch. 2020. Study of desertification sensitivity in Talh region (Central Tunisia) using remote sensing, GIS and the Medalus approach. Bedoui Geoenvironmental Disasters, 7:16, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-020-00148-w.
  6. Bo Ali, A.H., H. Asghari, A. Mohammadiyan Behbahani, S. Mahini and B. Naemi. 2021. Provision of early desertification warning system based on climate and groundwater criteria study area: Aq Qala and Gomishan counties. Geography and Development, 19(63): 285-306 (in Persian).
  7. Chaman pira, Gh., H. Ahmadi and Zahtabiyan. 2006. Application of ICD Method to determine the intensity of the current desertification situation in Kuh-Dasht Watershed. Iranian Journal of Natural Resources, 1(59): 543-555 (in Persian).
  8. Farajzadeh, M. and M. Nikeghbal. 2007. Evaluation medalus model eor desertification hazard zonation using GIS, study area: Iyzad Khast Plain, Iran. Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(16): 2622-2630 (in Persian).
  9. Honardoust, F., M. Ownegh and Sh. Vahedbordi. 2011. Assessing desertification sensitivity in the northern part of Gorgan Plain, southeast of the Caspian Sea, Iran. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5(3): 205-220 (in Persian).
  10. Jokar, P., M. Masoudi and F. Karimi. 2021. An mce-based innovative approach to evaluating ecotourism suitability using GIS. Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 47(2): 545-556.
  11. Kazeminia, A.R., K. Rangzan and M. Mahmoud Abadi. Assessment of desertification using the Medalus Model, case study: the lands of west Ahvaz. Journal of RS and GIS for Natural Resources, 8(2): 111–126 (in Persian).
  12. Khanamani, A., H.R. Karimzadeh, A. Jafari and A. 2013. Quantitative assessment of current desertification using Medalus Model, case study: Segzi Plain. RS and GIS for Natural Resource, 4(1): 13-25 (in Persian).
  13. Khodaei Gheshlagh, F., Sh. Rostaei and D. 2021. Zoning of desertification intensity based on groundwater degradation criteria using Madalus desertification model, case study: area around Urmia Lake. Hydrogeomorphology, 27(8): 59-79 (in Persian).
  14. Lahlaoi, H., H. Rhinane, A. Hilali, S. Lahssini and S. Moukrim. 2017. Desertification assessment using Medalus Model in watershed Oued El Maleh, Morocco. Geosciences, 7(50): 1-16.
  15. Macqueen, 1967. Some methods for classtification and analysis ofmultivariate observation. In Proceeding of the 5th Berkeley Symposiumon Mathematical Statistics and Probability. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1: 297-287.
  16. Masoudi, M. and Jokar. 2017. A new model for desertification assessment using Geographic Information System (GIS), a case study: Runiz Basin, Iran. Ecology, 2: 236-246.
  17. Mohamed, E.S. 2013. Spatial assessment of desertification in north Sinai using modified Medlaus Model. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 6(12): 4647-4659.
  18. Morianou, N.­N., V. Kourgialas, G. Pisinaras and G. Arambatzis. 2021. Assessing desertification sensitivity map under climate change and agricultural practices scenarios: the island of Crete case study. ESAI methodology and future climate scenarios, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/0. doi: 2166/ws.2021.132.
  19. Nafar, F., A. Ebrahimi and A.S. 2021. Desertification assessment tower in Sefiddasht-Borujen Watershed (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province) using the model. Journal of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System in Natural Resources (in Persian).
  20. M., A.A. Mohammadi and V. Gholami. 2012. Determining the intensity of erosion using Fargas and BLM models, case study: Bandar Watershed. Journal of Geography and Development, 29(10): 130-119 (in Persian).
  21. Naserzadeh, M.H., M. Akbari, M. Saligheh and Fakhrabadi. 2019. Intensity of desertification in Kashan Plain evaluation with Iranian desertification potential model. Journal of Geographical Research, 134: 528-538 (in Persian).
  22. Ownegh, M., N. Ramezani, A.R. Salman Mahini and A. Sepehr. 2020. Assessment of desertification risk in north Khorasan Province using IMDPA and MICD models. Journal of Desert Ecosystem Engineering, 9(26): 42-29 (in Persian).
  23. Raj, K. 2009. Desertification/land degradation status mapping of India. Current Science, 97(10): 1478-1489.
  24. Rasmy, M.A., H. Gad, M. Abdelsalam and M. 2010. A dynamic simulation model of desertification in Egypt. Egyption Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), 1564: 101-111.
  25. Rousseeuw, P.J. and A. Silhouette. 1987. Graphical aid to the interpretation and validation of cluster Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 20: 53-65.
  26. Sepehr, A. 2005. Quantitative assessment of the current status of desertification using GIS and RS to present a regional model with emphasis on the Medallus Model. MSc Thesis, Shiraz University, 126 pages (in Persian).
  27. Shariyary, A., M. Hoseini, M. Ekhtesasi and A. Fakhire. Assessment of land degradation in Sistan region with emphasis on wind erosion. Journal of Geography and Development, 8(20): 21-36 (in Persian).
  28. Shirghir, S. and M. Masoudi. 2021. Desertification risk assessment using the proposed new Madalus Model. Watershed Management Research, 34(3): 133-148 (in Persian).
  29. Shoba, P. and S.S. Ramakrishnan. 2016. Modeling the contributing factors of desertification and evaluating their relationships to the soil degradation process through geomatic techniques. Solid Earth, 7: 341–354.
  30. Turan­, İ.D. 2021. Spatio analysis of soil quality assessment in semi-arid ecosystem using a minimum data set. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 10(3): 222-235­.
  31. Ward, J. 1963. Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. Journal of the American Statistical Asssociation, 58(301): 236-244.
  32. Yaghmaeian Mahabadi, N.H., S. Asadi and Rezaei. 2017. Mapping and assessment of land degradation risk using Medalus Model in Siyahpoush Catchment, Ardabil Province. Journal of Water and Soil Conservation, 24(1): 173-187 (in Persian).
  33. Yaghobi, S. and K. 2020. Investigation and comparison of desertification trends in arid and semi-arid regions with emphasis on climate criteria, case study: Abbas Plain and Dehloran Plain (Ilam Province). Journal of Spatial Analysis of Environmental Hazards, 7(2): 103-120 (in Persian).
  34. Zehtabian, Gh., A.M. Khosravi and H. Azarnivand. Evaluation of desertification intensity in Kashan region from the perspective of soil criteria. 6th National Conference on Watershed Management Science and Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University (in Persian).
Watershed Engineering and Management
Volume 14, Issue 4
December 2023
Pages 494-511
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics