Monitoring and Predicting the Effect of Climatic Factors on Sand-Mobility Using Lancaster Index: A Case Study of Dayer, Bushehr Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.22052/deej.2021.11.36.41

Abstract

Introduction: As one of the most significant and sensitive landforms to wind erosion, sand dunes vary in their extent of activities based on the influence exerted on them by various climatic and terrestrial factors.The study area comprises a Busher province’s county located in southern Iran, where sand dunes activity causes great problems for the local community. Therefore, the identification of active sand dunes by using wind regime of the region and the factors involved in their activity based on the Lancaster index, the aim of this research is.
 
Methodology: First, the trends of climate factors, including precipitation, temperature, potential evapotranspiration, wind velocity, and local and non-local-originated dust were investigated at an annual scale using the data concerning the hourly-based wind velocity, weather codes, monthly precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration data collected from Dayer meteorological station over a 30-year period (1989–2018). Then, the sand dunes’ mobility status was examined by calculating the frequency of erosive wind and the aridity index over the whole study period using the Lancaster Index. Moreover, Sensitivity analysis was performed to predict the effect of meteorological parameters’ potential changes on sand dunes' mobility.
 
Results: The study’s results indicated that according to the Lancaster index, sand dunes were fully active during the 30-year period. Furthermore, the aridity index was found to be subjected to real, extremely serious, and serious risks of desertification in three classes hyper-arid, arid, and semi-arid, respectively. On the other hand, the results of sensitivity analysis suggested that if the frequency of upper-erosive-threshold winds would increase by 30% in the future, the sand dunes' activity and mobility would increase by 30 %. However, if the precipitation rate increases by 30 %, sand dunes' mobility, and activity will decrease by 23%. Moreover, no significant trend was observed in meteorological parameters, including precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration throughout the whole study period.
 
Conclusion: In general, an increasing trend was found in sand dunes activity during the 30-year study period, suggesting a direct correlation between such an increase and precipitation. Moreover, the study’s results indicated that the management measures carried out over the past 30 years (for instance, planting seedlings, hand-planting afforestation, and grazing management) have proved insufficient, necessitating the application of new management policies in this regard.

Keywords

  1. Ahmadi, M., Ramesht, M. H. and Darfashi, K., 2014. Investigation of shoreline change trends using remote sensing techniques and GIS, Case study: Bandar Dayer coast, Persian Gulf. Geography and planning Environmental 25 – 3, 1-12. (In Persian)
  2. Ahmadi Birgani, H., 2008. Simulation of sand dune movement using experimental and numerical methods (Case study: Erg Kashan). Master Thesis M.Sc. thesis, University of f Tehran, 91 pp.
  3. Arens, B., Geelen, L., Slings, R. and Wondergem, H., 2005. Restoration of dune mobility in the Netherlands, The First Conference Dunes and Estuaries. Koksijde, Belgium.
  4. Ashkenazy, Y., Yizhaq, H. and Tsoar, H., 2012. Sand dune mobility under climate change in the Kalahari and Australian Deserts. Climatic Change 112(3), 1-23.
  5. Da Silva, M. and Hesp, P.A., 2013. Increasing rainfall, decreasing winds, and historical changes in Santa Catarina dunefields, southern Brazil. Journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 38, 1036–1045.
  6. Feagin, R., Furman, M., Salgado, K., Martinez, M.L., Innocenti, R.A., Eubanks, K., Figlus, J., Huff, T.P., Sigren, J. and Silvae, R., 2019. The role of beach and sand dune vegetation in mediating wave run up erosion, Estuarine. Coastal and Shelf Science 219, 97–106.
  7. Gao, J., Kennedy, D. and Konlechner, T., 2020. Coastal dune mobility over the past century: A global review. Available at https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133320919612-05 -22/ Article Research. htm (visited 22 May 2020).
  8. Garcia-Lozano, C. and Pintó, J., 2018. Current status and future restoration of coastal dune systems on the Catalan shoreline (Spain, NW Mediterranean Sea), Journal of Coastal Conservation, 22, 519–532.
  9. Hejazi, A. and Mahmoudi, Sh., 2017. Investigation of textural characteristics of sand dunes in the east of Jask city. Sepehr Information Quarterly 26(101), 129-119.(In Persian)
  10. Johanna, C.S., Hamish, A.M. and David, T.N., 2008. Meteorological controls on sand transport and dune morphology in a polar-desert: Victoria Valley, Antarctica. Journal Earth Surface 33, 1875–1891.
  11. Khosravi, M., Fotouhi, P. and Piruzadeh, S., 2015. Study of temporal-spatial changes of sandy coastal hills using remote sensing (RS) studied: West Zarabad region. Journal of Spatial Analysis of Environmental Hazards 2 – 4, 1-14. (In Persian)
  12. Lancaster, N., 1998. Development of linear dunes in the southwestern Kalahari, southern Africa. Journal Arid Environment 14, 233–244.
  13. Naimi, M., Zandifar, S., Khosroshahi, M., Ashuri, P. and Abbasi, H.R., 2021. The effect of climate change on the mobility of sand dunes in Sabzevar city. Journal of Desert Management, Research Article 9, 1- 18. (In Persian)
  14. Nazari Samani, A., Rahdari, M. and Rahi, Gh. R., 2020. Evaluation of spatial changes of wind erosion of lands on the shores of Lake Urmia. Journal of Desert Management15, 53-72. (In Persian)
  15. Rahdari, M.R. and Rodríguez-Seijo, A., 2021. Monitoring Sand Drift Potential and Sand Dune Mobility over the Last Three Decades (Khartouran Erg, Sabzevar, NE Iran). Journal sustainability13 (9050):1–16. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169050. htm (visited 12 August 2021).
  16. Shayan, S., Akbarian, M., Yamani, M., SharifiKia, M. and Maghsoudi, M., 2014. Marine hydrodynamics and its effect on the formation of coastal sand masses Case study: Makran west coast. Journal of Geomorphological Research; Quantitative 4, 104-76.(In Persian)
  17. Shahriar, A. and Taherinejad, K., 2017. The role of wind direction and wind homogeneity index in temporal development and determination of sand dunes morphology (Case study: Sadeghabad-Bafgh citadel). Journal Quaternary Quarterly of Iran4 -2, 201-214 .(In Persian)
  18. Taniguchi, K., Endo, N. and Sekiguchi, H., 2012. The effect of periodic changes in wind direction on the deformation and morphology of isolated sand dunes based on flume experiments and field data from the Western Sahara. Geomorphology 179-15, 286-299.
  19. Vali, A. and Roustaei, F., 2017. A study of wind erosion trends in Central Iran using dust storm index in the last fifty years. Water and Soil Sciences - Agricultural Science and Technology and Natural Resources 21(4),189-200.(In Persian)
  20. Williams, A.T., Duck, R.W. and Phillips, M.R., 2011. Coastal dune vulnerability among selected Scottish systems. Journal of Coastal Research, 64, 1263-1267.
  21. Yousefi, A., Ghodrati, M. and Khosroshahi, M., 2021. Monitoring and forecasting of climatic factors affecting the mobility of sand dunes in Semnan province. Journal of Soil and Water Resources Protection 10- 4, 142-127. (In Persian)
  22. Zandifar, S., Khosroshahi, M., Ebrahimi Khosfi, Z. and Naimi, M., 2020. Predicting the mobility status of quick sands in the future based on the sensitivity analysis test (Case study: Manjil city). Geographical studies of arid regions10 -39, 18-35. (In Persian)

References

  1. Ahmadi, M., Ramesht, M. H. and Darfashi, K., 2014. Investigation of shoreline change trends using remote sensing techniques and GIS, Case study: Bandar Dayer coast, Persian Gulf. Geography and planning Environmental 25 – 3, 1-12. (In Persian)
  2. Ahmadi Birgani, H., 2008. Simulation of sand dune movement using experimental and numerical methods (Case study: Erg Kashan). Master Thesis M.Sc. thesis, University of f Tehran, 91 pp.
  3. Arens, B., Geelen, L., Slings, R. and Wondergem, H., 2005. Restoration of dune mobility in the Netherlands, The First Conference Dunes and Estuaries. Koksijde, Belgium.
  4. Ashkenazy, Y., Yizhaq, H. and Tsoar, H., 2012. Sand dune mobility under climate change in the Kalahari and Australian Deserts. Climatic Change 112(3), 1-23.
  5. Da Silva, M. and Hesp, P.A., 2013. Increasing rainfall, decreasing winds, and historical changes in Santa Catarina dunefields, southern Brazil. Journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 38, 1036–1045.
  6. Feagin, R., Furman, M., Salgado, K., Martinez, M.L., Innocenti, R.A., Eubanks, K., Figlus, J., Huff, T.P., Sigren, J. and Silvae, R., 2019. The role of beach and sand dune vegetation in mediating wave run up erosion, Estuarine. Coastal and Shelf Science 219, 97–106.
  7. Gao, J., Kennedy, D. and Konlechner, T., 2020. Coastal dune mobility over the past century: A global review. Available at https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133320919612-05 -22/ Article Research. htm (visited 22 May 2020).
  8. Garcia-Lozano, C. and Pintó, J., 2018. Current status and future restoration of coastal dune systems on the Catalan shoreline (Spain, NW Mediterranean Sea), Journal of Coastal Conservation, 22, 519–532.
  9. Hejazi, A. and Mahmoudi, Sh., 2017. Investigation of textural characteristics of sand dunes in the east of Jask city. Sepehr Information Quarterly 26(101), 129-119.(In Persian)
  10. Johanna, C.S., Hamish, A.M. and David, T.N., 2008. Meteorological controls on sand transport and dune morphology in a polar-desert: Victoria Valley, Antarctica. Journal Earth Surface 33, 1875–1891.
  11. Khosravi, M., Fotouhi, P. and Piruzadeh, S., 2015. Study of temporal-spatial changes of sandy coastal hills using remote sensing (RS) studied: West Zarabad region. Journal of Spatial Analysis of Environmental Hazards 2 – 4, 1-14. (In Persian)
  12. Lancaster, N., 1998. Development of linear dunes in the southwestern Kalahari, southern Africa. Journal Arid Environment 14, 233–244.
  13. Naimi, M., Zandifar, S., Khosroshahi, M., Ashuri, P. and Abbasi, H.R., 2021. The effect of climate change on the mobility of sand dunes in Sabzevar city. Journal of Desert Management, Research Article 9, 1- 18. (In Persian)
  14. Nazari Samani, A., Rahdari, M. and Rahi, Gh. R., 2020. Evaluation of spatial changes of wind erosion of lands on the shores of Lake Urmia. Journal of Desert Management15, 53-72. (In Persian)
  15. Rahdari, M.R. and Rodríguez-Seijo, A., 2021. Monitoring Sand Drift Potential and Sand Dune Mobility over the Last Three Decades (Khartouran Erg, Sabzevar, NE Iran). Journal sustainability13 (9050):1–16. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169050. htm (visited 12 August 2021).
  16. Shayan, S., Akbarian, M., Yamani, M., SharifiKia, M. and Maghsoudi, M., 2014. Marine hydrodynamics and its effect on the formation of coastal sand masses Case study: Makran west coast. Journal of Geomorphological Research; Quantitative 4, 104-76.(In Persian)
  17. Shahriar, A. and Taherinejad, K., 2017. The role of wind direction and wind homogeneity index in temporal development and determination of sand dunes morphology (Case study: Sadeghabad-Bafgh citadel). Journal Quaternary Quarterly of Iran4 -2, 201-214 .(In Persian)
  18. Taniguchi, K., Endo, N. and Sekiguchi, H., 2012. The effect of periodic changes in wind direction on the deformation and morphology of isolated sand dunes based on flume experiments and field data from the Western Sahara. Geomorphology 179-15, 286-299.
  19. Vali, A. and Roustaei, F., 2017. A study of wind erosion trends in Central Iran using dust storm index in the last fifty years. Water and Soil Sciences - Agricultural Science and Technology and Natural Resources 21(4),189-200.(In Persian)
  20. Williams, A.T., Duck, R.W. and Phillips, M.R., 2011. Coastal dune vulnerability among selected Scottish systems. Journal of Coastal Research, 64, 1263-1267.
  21. Yousefi, A., Ghodrati, M. and Khosroshahi, M., 2021. Monitoring and forecasting of climatic factors affecting the mobility of sand dunes in Semnan province. Journal of Soil and Water Resources Protection 10- 4, 142-127. (In Persian)
  22. Zandifar, S., Khosroshahi, M., Ebrahimi Khosfi, Z. and Naimi, M., 2020. Predicting the mobility status of quick sands in the future based on the sensitivity analysis test (Case study: Manjil city). Geographical studies of arid regions10 -39, 18-35. (In Persian)
Desert Ecosystem Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 36
November 2022
Pages 41-54

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics