International Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Research (IJBR) ISSN 0976-2612, Online ISSN 2278–599X, Vol-7, Special Issue3-April, 2016, pp329-334 http://www.bipublication.com

Research Article

Study on the Negative Effects of Morphodynamic Activities of Wind on the Khezer Abad Area of Province,

Mohammad Taher Nezami Department of Soil Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj,iran. [email protected]

ABSTRACT Any study on the climate abnormalities and anomalies defined as distancing from normal conditions in terms of time and space, is regarded as a significant and prominent action, if we consider desertification as the damages to land at arid, semi-arid and wet areas as a result of climate changes and human activities. The short term abnormalities and variations in any region cannot have an intense impact on the desert conditions and as the short terms conditions are being quenched, like drought, the climate conditions will be improved. So, all the involved ecosystems of other areas will be recovered gradually to their initial state. The reoccurrence of these anomalies and climate changes can be risk and dangerous in the long terms period. Hence, the perception of these changes and variations are regarded so important in order to prepare an appropriate plan for dealing with consequences and regulating the human activities, especially in the sensitive and vulnerable areas. In doing so, climate processes which play a role in intensifying the desert conditions of the region, were analyzed and studied based on the parameters including temperature, rainfalls and long terms data at synoptic station of Yazd and field studies. The finding indicate that changes in the afore-mentioned components contribute to desert conditions and intensify these conditions due to the human activities via excessive use of water resources and vegetation.

Keywords: Drought, Sand Storms, Khezerabad, Wet and Dry Periods

INTRODUCTION So far, more than one hundred countries are human activities rank the highest impact on the being steeped with desertification problem formation of desertification and they increase including developing countries, like Iran. This the pace of desertification in various areas. The phenomena is not merely confined to the arid or human agent not only damages the semi-arid areas, we can observe its occurrence environment, but also he stimulates and in the semi-wet regions of the earth. amplifies the natural agents such weather This phenomena includes a series of processes abnormalities in the desertification owing to the which are originated from natural factors and climate. These variations and abnormalities harmful human activities in the nature. The originating from distancing of climate abnormalities are defined as the land conditions within time and location from a long potentiality decline due to a single or multiple term normal conditions, may have an impact on various processes, such as wind and water the creation of difficult ecological conditions erosion, destruction of plant community, water and underline the intensification of human resources and soil salinization, which are also activities impact on the desertification. Human intensified as a result of human and being endangers the natural resources via environmental activities. It is worth noting that implementation of inappropriate agricultural Study on the Negative Effects of Morphodynamic Activities of Wind on the Khezer Abad Area of , Iran

techniques, deforestation, polluting the water cultivation of different plants, like Haloxylon, and soil resources and changes in the land use. Atriplex and Mulch. So far, about more than 13 percent of world Review of Literature forests and vegetation have become deserts and The first and pioneer commission of watershed over 30 percent of earth plant's resources are and soil conservation of Iran was established in exposed to the risk of desertification. While, 1962. They launched and conducted their about 20 percent of world population inhabit in studies on the Albaji Hills of Khuzestan with these areas. During every year, the mentioned scale of 40 hectares, since October of 1960. phenomena converts about 21 million hectares The serious researches were initiated since of the fertile lands to non-fertile ones and the 1962, and it was in 1971 that the study remains (about 6 million hectares) become coverage encompassed 10 provinces. In 1962, useless. Desertification becomes more intense, the desert greening research were carried out in especially in areas with high potentiality, hence 10 . Over the recent years, a it is will be so helpful to cope and deal with it comprehensive studies and researches have in the areas suffering from desertification. We been launched by Forest and Vegetation can presents a series of solution and appropriate Organization, Cattle Breeding Research Center management methods in order to decline the and Research Center for Desert Areas (Nateghi, intensity of the phenomena and hinder its 2001). The first activity and operation focused propagation. on evaluation and mapping of desertification For achieving the purpose, first we should be was conducted by UNESCO. cognizant of the desertification processes, This study endeavored to gain a better intensifying factors, its intensity and poor rate, perception of the complex problems of so we can offer and present an appropriate desertification of the regions which were model for desertification control. The exposed to desertification during 1977. The desertification phenomena as a decline of method of susceptibility analysis of the various natural ecosystems and decrease in the potential world regions to the desertification was based capabilities of rid and semi-wet areas has led to on the Modalus project presented by European its realization in different forms within various commission in 1999. Unfortunately, the regions of the world. The intensity of national scholars has paid less heed to this desertification within developing countries is so method, while it seems important to provide an high, compared to other world zones. The overview on the method pros and cons, and its factors which have an impact on the decline of high accuracy, compared to other methods. The capabilities of the mentioned regions are as main mechanism of this model is based on the follows: environmental climate factors, criteria, including quality of climate, soil, geomorphology factors, water and soil vegetation and management. It assigns a weight resources, overgrazing, excessive use of to layers effective in desertification and sources by inhabitants, use of salty water in employs geometric average instead of agricultural activities, urban and rural sprawl. numerical averages for index calculation. This Yazd province with 50 percent desert area and method surpasses other ones, not only due its desert and sandy land of 649110 hectares, is accuracy and low evaluation and mapping time, among ten provinces of Iran which has but also due to the minimization of experts' undergone desert greening operations by faults. Natural Resources Office of Yazd province, since 1971.This operation was initially MATERIALS AND METHODS commenced in the Rastag village of the 7% of the total area of the country of this / 131 province mainly for coping with sand invasion. km and have 98 / Yazd vast country with an About 3000 hectares of desert fields and sand area of 551 third province after Sistan and dunes were restored and stabilized via Baluchestan and Kerman. The province is

Mohammad Taher Nezami 330 Study on the Negative Effects of Morphodynamic Activities of Wind on the Khezer Abad Area of Yazd Province, Iran

located in central Iran, and between 56. This Increase in weather dryness, decrease in soil 52 to 32  33 North and longitude 45  29 to resistance and destruction of plant cover in 35  latitudes 48 is associated with provinces natural form and originating from human of the North West province of Semnan, from activities, reduction of groundwater table and the West, the South West, the South and East of soil dryness. the province and from East to South Khorasan Changes in Climate Index as an alarm of province and the north and northeast Khorasan. Desertification in Yazd- Desert North and latitudes 49 42 32  31  487  to Ekhtesasi et al. (2008) opted Yazd-Ardakan Khezer Abad region located between latitudes Desert as their case study and investigated the 54 East with over Totaling area of 12930 long term climate variation during 50 years hectares, in West Yazd is located in the period. They divided this period into two 25 southeastern region of city 53. The years periods and scrutinized the conditions in watershed division of the province, this small the form of moving average from 1954 till part of the catchment area large Yazd - is 2004. Ardekan and the political subdivisions of a They focused on the changes in precipitation section of the city is Saduq. and temperature. The obtained results of data Climate Criteria used for Iran Desert analysis refer to the fact that the amount of The main criteria used for gaining a perception precipitation during the first 25 years was 62 of Iran deserts are as follows: sparse and erratic mm, which was declined to below 61 mm rainfall with intensity variations during a year, during the second half of 50 years. Moreover, absolute temperature over 40 ° C, evaporation the temperature is raised from 18 degrees to 19 rate 15 to 20 times the annual rainfall, the ratio degrees, during the second half of the period of of annual precipitation to potential 50 years. These variations were analyzed in evapotranspiration of less than 3% based on the terms of Domarten Moisture index and it was formula suggested by UNESCO, relative deduced that the climate conditions of the humidity greater than 80% for coastal region should be considered as a harbinger of wilderness and 15 to 20% for internal deserts, desertification phenomena. Yazd province with severe wind erosion and formation of sandy centers of wind erosion and due to the climate hills, water erosion and flooding. abnormalities, including decrease in rainfall Origin and distribution of the risks of wind and increase in temperature and consequences erosion of desertification, like reduction in water tables The study area along with Taft, Nadushan and is considered as the third province intensely Meybod is being included within the range of steeped with desertification phenomena. sand bank removal by wind and the wind has Seemingly, it is essential to devise a plan to an impact on the Ardakan-Yazd desert due to control and observe the obstacles hindering the the new deposits and fine within the wind. development. Consequently, the first step is Yazd-Ardakan desert is regarded as the most gaining a perception of desertification important sedimentation section during the processes and intensifying factors. wind erosion of province. The effective factors Furthermore, it is important to be aware of the on the intensification of wind erosion can be intensity of the condition. Otherwise, any identified in areas exposed to active wind measure without knowledge will lead to a erosion in the past, while now due to the fiasco and waste of time and financial transition of fines and formation of roads, the resources. desert within the areas is inactive. However, the Negative Effects of morphodynamic activities most important factors influencing the of wind on the area intensification of wind erosion activities are as These negative effects can be examined within follows: two separate areas:

Mohammad Taher Nezami 331 Study on the Negative Effects of Morphodynamic Activities of Wind on the Khezer Abad Area of Yazd Province, Iran

a) Inside Area: with regard to the fact that station can be a reliable representation of the this area is considered as one of the harvest dominant condition over the area. The centers by wind, the most important precipitation and temperature are the most negative effect of morphodynamic important index used for analysis of climate activities is the desert pavement. variation, which are deemed to be essential for b) Outside Area: with regard to the direction studying the climate agendas by the most of dominant winds, the deposition and climatologists and ecologists. The climate

Carting Damages Province Harvest area Sedimentation zone Total(hectares) area (Million) Yazd 174254 196673 288186 659113 13843.6968 sedimentation location of wind sand is in variations which have an impact on the Yazd-Ardakan desert, Ashkzar, Bafegh and desertification process were studied in terms of Tabas areas. The conducted researches moisture anomalies, thermal anomalies and revealed that more than 30000 tons of combination of temperature and humidity sediment was added per a year to Arg-yazd anomalies during two periods of fifty years and during 1956 till 1993. About 1200 tons of double 25 years. Rain gauge stations along with sediment is collapsed on the city in the climatology and synoptic station adjacent to the form of dust and has led to problems, range (which is not so different from the study within the sectors of industry, agriculture, area) wider than the study area were used, due inhabitation and health. to the absence of sufficient weather stations. The first phase of this study is the field The obtained results were presented in table 3. observation and control of the study area and The manifestation of values and trends of these becoming familiar with its general variations in long term, has always been characteristics and mutual effects of each challenging and defective. The library research, environmental and human factors on the diagram and graph plotting for being familiar weather. While, the second phase involves the with trend of climate abnormalities were done selection of an appropriate weather station in using Excel and SPSS software. With regard to terms of location properties of the area in order the existence of two different geomorphology to utilize the corresponding data for analysis of modes (mountains and plains) which are climate abnormalities which have an impact on dominant over the area, the selection of station the desertification process, and finally we will was carried out in manner that it can encompass able to set up plans in consistence with the all dominant characteristics of mountains observed climate conditions. We need to and plains modes over the area in terms of understand and figure out the climate changes topography, altitude and latitude. Moreover, the and variations using statistical data and their main focus was on the data of Yazd synoptic graphical visualization in order to shade a light station, mainly due to its long-term statistics. on the importance of the menacing phenomena With regard to the fact that, the precipitation for perspective generations. Therefore, the long data of each station can be defective, the term data of synoptic station of Yazd was exclusion of defective data is recommended for chosen as the base of this study for depiction of an accurate analysis. climate changes indicting the actual effect of the variations on the earth. The data of this

Geographical Location Length of Onset of Station Name Type of Station Above sea level statistical statistical Longitude Latitude period period Yazd Synoptic 1230 54-17" 31-17" 54 30 – 31 Khezerabad Climatological 1732 53-17" 31-52" 7 77 – 78 Nasr-Abad Climatological 2050 53 52" 31 45" 39 46-47

Mohammad Taher Nezami 332 Study on the Negative Effects of Morphodynamic Activities of Wind on the Khezer Abad Area of Yazd Province, Iran

Nadushan Climatological 1950 53 33" 32 2" 8 76-77 Ashzar Climatological 1140 54 19" 32 28 57-58 Yazd Rain gauge 1230 54 17" 31 53" 54 30-31 Khezer-Abad Rain gauge 1732 53 57" 31 52" 7 77-78 Nasr-Abad Rain gauge 2050 53 52" 31 45" 37 46-47 Nadushan Rain gauge 1950 53 33" 31 2" 8 76-77 Ashkzar Rain gauge 1140 54 19" 32 27 57-58 Kazab Rain gauge 1920 53 52" 31 52" 18 66-67 Khod Rain gauge 2570 53 45" 31 49" 9 77-76 Taft Rain gauge 1580 54 6" 31 18" 33 50-51 Ali-Abad Rain gauge 2290 53 58" 31 40" 10 74-75 Shuwas Rain gauge 2220 53 38" 31 40" 9 75-76 Sadr-Abad Rain gauge 2170 53 6" 32 4" 17 67-68 Rastagh Rain gauge 1050 54 14" 32 3" 38 46-47 Darb-zar Rain gauge 1860 53 59" 31 50" 12 70-71 Hamaneh Rain gauge 1950 52 53" 31 51" 9 75-76

Table 2: Study Stations characteristics CONCLUSION temperature increases about 1 degree, The desert areas are not dangerous by Atmospheric moisture capacity will be doubled, themselves, but the climate changes and while in the absence of humidity the dryness of variations which lead to desertification of weather will be boosted. So, temperature normal areas is so dangerous and they should variations should be considered as the main be controlled. With regard to the 4 mm of factor of intensification of the inappropriate climate data comparison it can be deduced that environmental condition like dryness and about 45 percent reduction has occurred in desertification. Examining the minimum precipitation, over the last 25 years, compared temperature increase trend and record of to the similar periods of bygone. The reduction minimum temperature during two periods of 25 of 5, without considering the composite and yeas imply that over the past 25 years, the value intensifying effects on other factors, has had an of temperature was not below -6 degrees. important impact on the dryness of the weather While, over the late 25 years till 2005, nine and other negative consequences which are years have had the minimum record of below -6 mainly due to the excessive usage of natural degrees. The orientation of minimum resources by human. To this end, the study on temperature toward the negative values the seasonal rainfall revealed that precipitation indicates that the weather has become more during winter season in this 25 years, has been heat during the recent period. The increasing increased, while its positive effect has been trend of maximum temperature during the sharply decreased. The spring precipitation has period and a comparison of two 25 years decreased about 9 percent, which has made the periods, imply that by the end of 1980, we can condition difficult for plant growth due to the observe 4 cases of temperature above the 44 increase in soil dryness. The reduction in plant degrees. While, this figure during the recent 25 growth has underlined the desertification via years has increased to 9 cases. This variation reducing soil resistance and increasing the implies the warming of weather. The difference damages. The annual average temperature has reduction between maximum and minimum reached to 19 degrees during the two periods of temperature indicates the intensification of 25 years. Till the late 2007, none of the annual climate anomalies which contributes to desert average temperature was below 20 degrees. It is conditions. A comparison between wind interesting to note that even 1 degree increase velocity and annual precipitation implies that in annual average temperature is named as a during all dryness periods the wind speed has climate variation, as a result all other dependent increased. In this way, the transfer of low parameters will be affected and contribute to moisture upon the evaporation levels and desertification. On the other hand, as the increase in evaporation have intensified the

Mohammad Taher Nezami 333 Study on the Negative Effects of Morphodynamic Activities of Wind on the Khezer Abad Area of Yazd Province, Iran

dryness of conditions. During the wet periods Master Thesis Faculty of Natural Resources, of years, the wind speed has reduced which is a Tehran University. reason of temperature equilibrium via 9. Kaviani, M.R. (2002). Micro-climatology, absorption of heat in the form of latent heat of Semat Publication. vaporization. With regard to the descending 10. Nateghi, R. (2001). Novel attitude toward trend of precipitation during the last 25 years desert, Rural Development Publication and ascending order of wind speed during the same period and 9 years of drought in the area (based on the moving average of 7 years), the area will become more dry , which is attributed to desertification.

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