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Publication Date: 2024
Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment (23529385) 35
Land subsidence has emerged as a significant global concern, particularly in arid regions like Iran. Among these vulnerable areas, the Isfahan-Borkhar plain stands out due to its strategic importance and critical high-population settlements. In this study, we focus specifically on land subsidence within this plain. This study specifically examines land subsidence in this plain. Utilizing the precise radar interferometry technique, considered the most accurate method, this study investigates the vertical changes of the Earth's surface in the Isfahan-Borkhar plain between 2015 and 2022 by analyzing Sentinel-1 satellite data. To establish causality, we correlate these subsidence patterns with spatial water extraction data, employing a spatial bivariate relationship model. The results obtained from this seven-year monitoring period reveal that average annual subsidence in different areas of the Isfahan-Borkhar plain ranges from 25 to 45 cm, while the average annual decline in the water table in this aquifer is 230 cm. The pronounced subsidence observed aligns with areas experiencing the highest water level decline, emphasizing the critical role of water table depletion. In summary, our study underscores the need for sustainable water management practices to mitigate land subsidence risks in this strategically vital region. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2023
Journal of Hazardous Materials (18733336) 455
The current study was established for predicting some selected heavy metals (HMs) including Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, and Cu, by applying random forest (RF) and a set of environmental covariates at watershed scale. The objectives were to find out the most effective combination of variables and controlling factors on the variability of HMs in a semiarid watershed in central Iran. One hundred locations were selected in the given watershed in the hypercube manner and soil samples from a surface 0–20 cm depth and concentration of HMs and some soil properties were measured in the laboratory. Three scenarios of input variables were defined for HMs prediction. The results revealed that the first scenario (remote sensing + topographic attributes) explained about 27–34% of the variability in HMs. Inclusion of a thematic map to the scenario I, improved the prediction accuracy for all HMs. Scenario III (remote sensing data+ topographic attributes + soil properties) was the most efficient scenario for prediction of HMs with R2 values ranging from 0.32 for Cu to 0.42 for Fe. Similarly, the lowest nRMSE was found for all HMs in scenario III, ranging from 0.271 for Fe to 0.351 for Cu. Among the soil properties, clay content and magnetic susceptibility were the most important variables, and also some remote sensing data (Carbonate index, Soil adjusted vegetation index, Band2, and Band7) and topographic attributes (mainly control soil redistribution along the landscape) were the most efficient variables for estimating HMs. We concluded that the RF model with a combination of remote sensing data, topographic attributes, and assisting of thematic maps such as land use in the studied watershed could reliably predict HMs content. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2023
Stochastic Environmental Research And Risk Assessment (14363240) 37(10)pp. 4029-4050
This study aims to employ joint modeling for drought and dust hazards. Long-term monthly precipitation and temperature were used to calculate drought characteristics based on the standardized precipitation- evapotranspiration index. Three-hourly horizontal visibility and wind erosion event codes were also obtained to detect dust events. The results of drought hazard assessment indicated that about 52% of the total area of Iran was affected by moderate hazard. Other classes of drought hazard i.e., severe, low, and very severe, covered approximately 24, 18, and 6%, respectively. The assessment of dust hazard was conducted by weighting the frequency of dust events based on the horizontal visibility. The findings on dust hazard showed that approximately 18% of the total area of Iran was affected by the more intense hazard, which covered the southeastern sectors. Bivariate copulas were considered for joint modeling of drought and dust hazards. The copulas of Student’s t, Gaussian, Gumbel, and others were applied to construct a joint model. Bivariate assessment of drought and dust hazard illustrated that the eastern part of Iran, which covers around 47% of the country, exposed at greater hazard than other parts. The copula-based conditional probability was also obtained to quantify the probability of dust occurrence under different drought hazard levels. The conditional probability values showed that by intensification of drought conditions the probability of dust hazard increased. In addition the frequency of dust occurrences increased when the region faced very severe droughts. Generally, the prolonged and severe droughts were identified as the most important reasons for the increased hazard of dust and drought in the study region. This study results indicated that the joint risk of drought and dust hazard along with vulnerability factors, can be used for possible mitigation of the risks of these natural hazards. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Publication Date: 2020
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (discontinued) (18667538) 13(4)
Considering the geographical location of Iran in the arid and semi-arid belt of the Earth and the low average annual precipitation, the groundwater resources, especially the karstic aquifers, are one of the most important water resources. The Golin karstic aquifer in the Alvand river basin of Kermanshah plays a vital role in supplying drinking and agricultural water to the surrounding local communities. The purpose of this study is to estimate the amount of water recharge into the Golin karstic aquifer in southwest of Kermanshah province. In this study, it is tried to consider the joints and fractures as an effective factor in karst aquifer recharge. For this purpose, the APLIS model is used with slope, lithology, soil, fractures and faults, geology, and altitude parameters in GIS environment. Using the APLIS model and taking into account the maximum weight for the related parameters, it was found that the recharge coefficient from precipitation into the related aquifer was calculated as 30%, while the water balance indicates the recharge level of about 50%. Studies show that the APLIS model ignores the role of joints and fissures which play an important role in the recharge of karstic aquifers. This study tries to consider the joints and fractures as an effective factor in recharge in the APLIS model and it was calibrated by applying some weights in the model based on the situation of the area. The results of this study show that the average water recharge to the karstic resources in this study area was 54.4% ranging from 18.8 to 90%, which corresponds with the water balance of the area. © 2020, Saudi Society for Geosciences.
Publication Date: 2016
Environmental Earth Sciences (18666299) 75(5)pp. 1-10
The Khorein karstic aquifer in the Kermanshah province (western Iran) plays a vital role in providing drinking and agricultural water for its surrounding communities. The aim of this research is to evaluate natural vulnerability, hazard and risk indices of the Khorein aquifer by cost action 620 proposed models, as well as to prioritize the aquifer surface concerning to protection measures and providing management strategies in order to its better protection. The results of the COP method represent the high natural vulnerability of the region. Calculation of the hazard index show that the military regions, telecom sites, the nomads’ habitation areas and quarries are situated in areas with low hazard index. Evaluation of the risk index and predict the aquifer contamination show that 75 % of the region extent is no or very low contamination risk, which this is due to low development of human activities in the top of the mass. This claim is confirmed by the presence of Escherichiacoli bacteria in the aquifer water. The expansion of human activities in future toward the altitudes, can lead to further pollution of the aquifer. Continuous monitoring of the chemical characteristics of water, taking the recharge map, characterizing the areas with concentrated charge, determining the karstic landform limits, restricting the livestock activities on the anticline top, avoiding the construction activities close to the aquifer and improving the people and authorities public awareness level are the main necessary measures pertaining to manage the Khorein aquifer. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Publication Date: 2014
Advances in Environmental Biology (19950756) 8(25)pp. 184-190
The increasing population in recent decades has led to an increased extraction of groundwater resources throughout the country especially in central provinces. This problem has also been increasing in Isfahan province due to reduction of surface water. One of these areas is Buin watershed basin with a space of 1855 km to the north of Zayanderoud dam. This basin includes three aquifers of Chehel Khaneh, Damenedaran and Buin, which have been extended within the alluviums of the Quaternary Period. This research is an attempt to investigate the rate of groundwater decline in these aquifers from 2002 to 2012 and investigate the reasons for the decline related to human and natural factors as well. For this purpose, the rate of the groundwater decline was measured using the interpolation techniques as well as Arc Gis, Excel and SPSS softwares. Results reveal that the average rate of the decline during this 11-year period has been 6 meters and Damenedaran aquifer has had the highest decline of all with an average decline of -8, while Chehel Khaneh has had the lowest decline with an average decline of -1.5. Then, the human and natural reasons for decline were investigated and it was shown that rainfall has had the most effect of all the natural factors, the lowest rainfall has been in 1378, and the groundwater level changes have greatly changed and the decline has increased ever since. Considering human-related factors, the exploitation rate of water resources has greatly increased due to farming reasons, and the number of deep wells has increased from 1140 wells in 2002-2003 to 1304 wells in 2011-2012. © 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014
Journal of Military Medicine (17351537) 16(2)pp. 99-104
Aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis as a public health problem in most countries throughout the world, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas is common. Iran is among the countries where the disease is endemic and in the southern region of the province of Fars, it has been observed at the utmost prevalence. This paper is concerned about some climatic parameters with the prevalence of the disease in the city of Larestan. Methods: This study is an applied research in correlational design in which library techniques were employed. Data collection was conducted on the paraclimate, rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and sunshine hours during the period 1390-1382 from the weather station of Larestan and related information of the patients from the health center during this period. Statistical analysis was done using Excel and SPSS software. Results: The highest prevalence of the disease has occurred in the months of January and February. Climatic parameters of rainfall and relative humidity had inverse correlation with the prevalence of disease. However, temperature and sunshine hours showed a direct relationship with the prevalence of disease. Conclusion: Larestan city due to a hot and dry climate has provided the foundation for the outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the area. Actually, climatic parameters such as precipitation, relative humidity, temperature and sunshine hours engage in the prevalence of disease.
Publication Date: 2012
European Journal of Scientific Research (discontinued) (1450202X) 73(3)pp. 322-330
Tourism industry is that its development requires an adequate understanding of the issues and factors affecting the economic, social, cultural and natural heritage in each region. Iran tourism industry as a high potential for growth and development has. According to World Tourism Organization, Iran ranks tenth archaeological and historical attractions and natural attractions ranked fifth in the world and one of the safest countries in the region and the world in terms of security for foreign tourists. Between the poles of tourism in Iran, Lorestan province, including areas that according to the environmental features and natural attractions that can be programmed with the management and staff in the region become a major tourism area. The status of tourism in this Lorestan province has been assessed using TOPSIS model. In this way, the decision matrix that consists of m option and n index which options include the province city indices in order of importance are: climate, ecosystems, water, vegetation, protected areas and environmental hazards. Using TOPSIS Model results show that climatic factors weighing 0/4245 in Tourism is the most important factor affecting natural. Also according to this model, Khorram Abad city (with the highest similarity to the ideal positive), highest natural potential in attracting tourists and city Alashtar (with the lowest similarity to the ideal positive), the potential is lowest. © 2012 EuroJournals Publishing, Inc.
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