Dr Ghasem Azizi, Dr Samaneh Negah, Dr Nima Farid Mojtahedi, Mr Yossef Shojaie,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Abstract
The continuous and expanding process of global warming, especially in the Asian region, has provided the conditions for increasing drought and the spread of desertification. Many deserts had ecologically balanced soil conservation conditions that until recently have become new sources of dust generation now. Numerous examples have occurred in Iran due to its special geographical location among some of the most important deserts in the world. Temperature anomaly (about 8º C) last winter in the Caspian Sea basin has created new dust sources for the southern coastal of the Caspian Sea. On 30-31 May 1400, dust emission was recorded in meteorological stations of Gilan province in terms of area and concentration. The implementation of HYSPLIT chemical backward models shows the emission of dust from the northwestern region of the Caspian Sea to the southern coastal of the Caspian Sea (Guilan province) for the first time with such intensity. The source and origin of this dust was identified in the Rhine desert in the northwest of the Caspian Sea. Continuous and unprecedented warming in the region and accompanied by strong north-south currents provided the conditions for the emission of this dust. Due to the origin of the emitted dust as well as the geographical and topographical conditions of the Caspian Sea basin, the level of this dust was assessed from the ground level to an altitude of less than 1500 meters. Analysis of synoptic conditions using NCEP / NCAR analysis data with 1 degree horizontal resolution indicates the establishment of high pressure air mass with a center of 1018 hPa on the northwestern parts of the Caspian Sea and the penetration of high pressure to the southern coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. Due to the appropriate pressure gradient and increasing wind speed, dust-producing springs are formed on the desert areas of the Rhine and with the dominance of the northern currents (south-south), the dust mass is sent to Gilan province.
Keywords: Global Warming, Dust emission, Russian Rhine Desert, Gilan.
Ali Akbar Shamsipour, Faeze Shoja, Fatemeh Amrayi,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate one of the supporting services of the ecosystem, called habitat quality, and to assess the spatial vulnerability of natural landscapes in the city of Khorramabad using the InVEST habitat quality module. To achieve this objective, it is essential to identify the sources of threats, the relative weight of each threat, the maximum distance of its effect in space, the types of habitats, and the sensitivity of each to the source of the threat. In addition, one of the most important inputs of InVEST is the land use/land cover (LULC) of the study area. The Local Climate Zone classification method has been used for the creation of this map. Finally, the model generates spatial distribution maps of habitat quality and degradation across the landscape by combining LULC and different threat sources. The findings indicated that the city, airport, and highway factors are the most destructive threat factors to all habitats with an average score of 0.51, 0.345, and 0.33, respectively. Compared to other LULC, water, dense trees, and scattered trees suffered the most destruction, with sensitivity ratings of 0.47, 0.39, and 0.36, respectively. The results also revealed that habitat quality in Khorramabad is at a medium to low level, and the habitat quality is in very good condition in only 3% of the landscape area.
