Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Arid and Mountainous Regions Reclamation, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2
Department of Arid and Mountainous Regions Reclamation, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3
Researcher of Desert Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Human activities have intensified wind erosion in recent decades, affecting 30% of the Earth's surface. This study evaluates land susceptibility to wind erosion. It identifies dust sources in Alborz and Qazvin provinces using the ILSWE index, which integrates climatic erosivity, soil erodibility, soil crust factor, vegetation cover, and surface roughness. These factors were derived from climatic data, field observations, and laboratory analyses. Land use analysis (2001–2022) revealed a 3.82% decline in rangeland, while cropland (2.93%), barren land (3.01%), and urban areas (0.47%) increased. Forests (0.12%) and shrublands (2.48%) decreased, while water bodies remained unchanged. The highest climatic erosivity was found in the northern, eastern, and southwestern regions. Vegetation cover and surface roughness peaked in the central to eastern areas, while the lowest values were observed in the northern, southern, and western regions. Soil crust and erodibility were highest in the southern, western, and southwestern areas, while the lowest values occurred in the central and northern parts. Over 70% of the region exhibited "very high" or "high" wind erosion sensitivity, with peaks in 2003, 2004, 2021, and 2022. Highly sensitive areas in the central and northwestern parts have decreased over time. Trend analysis showed that 8.45% of the region had reduced sensitivity (mainly in agricultural lands), 81.82% remained stable, and 9.73% increased (mainly in barren lands and dust hotspots). The study concludes that climatic conditions, vegetation cover, and soil type contribute to wind erosion, while increasing barren and agricultural lands reflect population growth and higher food demand.
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