Original Article
Mehdi Panahi; Farhad Misagi; Parisa Asgari
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 1-14
Abstract
Introduction: In recent decades, climate change and the lack of adequate and timely rainfall, due to the lack of water supply for irrigated plants, the limitation of renewable land and water resources, the heterogeneous distribution of spatial and temporal distribution of fresh water, as well as the ...
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Introduction: In recent decades, climate change and the lack of adequate and timely rainfall, due to the lack of water supply for irrigated plants, the limitation of renewable land and water resources, the heterogeneous distribution of spatial and temporal distribution of fresh water, as well as the rapid growth of the world population, including Iran, There are increasing problems in providing water resources for various uses. One of the main requirements for meeting the world's food needs is access to sustainable agriculture and its development. In order to achieve such a goal, it should be avoided by adopting appropriate measures to prevent damage to the system of limited resources in each region. Groundwater is always a source of water supplies as a source of fresh water. Underground water management in the first stage requires the identification and operation of aquifers in natural conditions. In most hydrological issues and underground water resources studies, the availability of groundwater resources data and statistics is of great importance. In order to assess the effects of development in existing conditions and provide management methods for groundwater resources, both quantitatively and qualitatively, mathematical and computer simulation of these resources is a powerful tool in optimal utilization of these resources. Maerials and methods: Numerical modeling of groundwater in aquifers is an important tool for the management of water resources. This model can be used to estimate the hydraulic parameters as well as water resources management. The aim of this study was to simulate the fluctuations in groundwater levels in the aquifer by GMS software Zanjan located at a latitude of 47 degrees 50 minutes 49 ° East and latitude 36 degrees 20 minutes north and 37 degrees is located. This model is a combination of code Modflow and GIS using the finite difference method, the underground water level simulation. For this research the information needed to run the model include: Positions border aquifers, at different heights above ground level bed rock aquifer, the amount of withdrawals from wells tapping position, the position and the water level in observation wells, hydraulic conductivity layer and nutrition, were introduced to the model. After preparation of the conceptual model and the determination of initial and boundary conditions, the simulation will be discussed. The flow simulation model was calibrated in a steady flow. Results and discution: The results of the calibration results in a steady state a reasonable balance between the observed and calculated in October 2002 showed. After calibration nutritional value 0/000321 meters per day was that this amount is 1/98 times the amount of power input to the model. The amount of horizontal hydraulic conductivity layers of sand, silt and sand, gravel 28.57 and 40.4 respectively km per day and then unsteady flow model calibration mode for distances between 2002 and 2007, using trial and error to achieve the best balance between the level observed daily and were calculated and projected groundwater levels drop, based on the implementation of the model for 2007 and 2015 and 2022 was performed. The root mean square error, mean absolute error and mean error, respectively, 17/41, 15/22 and -0.6, respectively. After calibration nutritional value 0.000321 meters per day was that this amount is 1/98 times the amount of input supply model. The amount of horizontal hydraulic conductivity layers of sand, silt and sand, gravel 28/57 and 40/4 respectively km per day and then unsteady flow model calibration mode for distances between 2002 and 2007, using trial and error to achieve the best result among the observed daily balance and balance was calculated. The root mean square error and average error with respect to the amount equal to 26/29 and -8/43 showed good accuracy model. The water level calculated for the converter, groundwater flow is from the southeast to the northwest of the current slope correspond area. Conclusion: The model was implemented with the assumption of the rate of groundwater abatement and constant nutrition for a 15-year interval from 2007 to 2022 Maps obtained for the groundwater level in the years reflects a sharp drop in the water level continued indiscriminate harvesting of underground water aquifer Zanjan.
Original Article
Seyyedeh Sheyda Shafiei Amreie; Esmaeil Rasooly Garmaroody; Seyed Rahman Djafari Petroudy; Omid Ramezani
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 15-28
Abstract
Introduction: Nowadays, pulp and paper industries, due to limitations in raw material supplying, Inefficiencies in achieving the system of producing multiple valuable products, the loss of large portion of raw material during processing, and also restriction of the use of the fossil fuel regard to sustainable ...
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Introduction: Nowadays, pulp and paper industries, due to limitations in raw material supplying, Inefficiencies in achieving the system of producing multiple valuable products, the loss of large portion of raw material during processing, and also restriction of the use of the fossil fuel regard to sustainable development, should be addressed the development and reform of efficient methods such as bio-refinery. Bio-refinery by using various pre-treatment methods, changed raw material to its fractions to obtain intermediate products such as sugars (glucose and xylose) that they are changeable to bio-based products with high value-added in the next step. By Bio-refinery approach and to evaluate of potential of the most important papermaking industrial waste, this study carried out by focusing on xylan valuable hemicellulose extraction for production of high value-added products. Materials and methods: After the first preparation of bagasse pith, its chemical compounds were determined according to standard methods. For easy obtain to better quality and quantity of xylan, bagasse pith treated by two process of alkali pre-treatment (soda cooking with 2, 4, 6 and 8% alkali concentration, time of 5 and 15 minutes and temperature of 110 , 140 ˚C) and bleaching with sodium chlorite and then evaluated in term of yield and lignin content. Bleached pulps in order to xylan extraction treated with NaOH in different dosages (8, 10 and 14 %). Extracted samples characterized in weight loss, recovery rate, xylan extraction percent as well as FT-IR spectroscopy. Results and discussion: Results showed that there is 26% of xylan and 20% of lignin in chemical compounds of the un-treated bagasse pith. In the first processing of bagasse pith, conditions of 8% concentration for NaOH, extraction time 5 minutes and temperature of 110 ˚C were selected due to more yield and less lignin of pulps as well as 6-step process in the bleaching part due to more holocellulose and less lignin. It showed that delignification (alkali cooking) led to lignin removing as well as facilitating of the hemicellulose extraction. Hence, it can be expected improve of the xylan extraction with alkali extraction. In the xylan extraction section, by increasing of NaOH consumption from 8 to 14 percent, the recovery rate of xylan increased to 22 % so that in this conditions extracted xylan content was 4.53 g. FT-IR spectra were also confirmed that with alkali pre-treatment and bleaching, lignin decreased, by increasing in NaOH consumption, xylan extraction was increased and of course, major hemicellulose in bagasse pith is xylan. Conclusion: Bagasse pith is reach of the carbohydrate specific xylan so that its alkali pre-treatment and bleaching led to lignin loss and more accessibility to this carbohydrate. Finally, xylan extraction using 14% NaOH suggested as the optimized extraction due to the most yield and extracted xylan percent. Hence, it can used to produce bio-based products in bio-refinery concept.
Original Article
Moslem Heydari; Afshin Honarbakhsh; Mahdi Pajoohesh; Maryam Zangiabadi
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 29-46
Abstract
Introduction: Over the past few decades, several models such as the LP model have been used for watershed management and planning as well as determining optimal cultivation pattern for agricultural planning. Management and planning methods are the most important applied tools of management science for ...
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Introduction: Over the past few decades, several models such as the LP model have been used for watershed management and planning as well as determining optimal cultivation pattern for agricultural planning. Management and planning methods are the most important applied tools of management science for optimal allocating of environmental resources, in order to gain the most profits in the different fields including natural resources, water resources and etc. The purpose of this study was to develop an optimal land use model with an environmental approach using a combination of linear programming mathematical optimization method to determine the optimal land use area by spatial optimization method of multi objective land allocation to determine The optimal location of land uses. Materials and methods: In this study using optimization methods tried to produce an environmental model which is compatible with social and economic condition of watershed for better use, conservation and rehabilitation of existent natural resources. For this purpose, a single objective linear programming model with environmental approach was used to land use optimization and a multi objective optimization model for optimal allocation of resources. Results and discussion: After collecting and analyzing the data and entering them into the single-objective optimization model of linear programming, a mathematical model was first developed that determines the optimal area of land uses in the basin, and then, using the spatial optimization model of multi-objective land allocation the optimal land uses location was determined. The proposed combined model is an efficient model because it can simultaneously determine the optimized area and location of land uses. Conclusions: The results showed that the proposed combined model can be the base for correct management of resources and decrease the amount of soil erosion to 9 percent and increase the amount of profit to 96 percent.
Original Article
Mahmoud Ahmadi; AbbasAli Dadashi Roudbari; Hamzeh Ahmadi
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 47-68
Abstract
Introduction: The air temperature parameter is one of the most important measures for identifying the climatic and environmental conditions of each region. Today, by using thermal infrared data, LST maps can be prepared without physical contact with objects or surfaces. Awareness of the spatial and temporal ...
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Introduction: The air temperature parameter is one of the most important measures for identifying the climatic and environmental conditions of each region. Today, by using thermal infrared data, LST maps can be prepared without physical contact with objects or surfaces. Awareness of the spatial and temporal distribution of LST is essential to determine the land energy balance, the evapotranspiration and meteorology studies is essential. LST is a function of pure energy at the land surface which depends on the amount of energy reaching the land surface, surface emissivity, humidity, and air flow. The present study intends to investigate the state of Daytime LST in Iran in different months of the year based on the output of MODIS Terra images.Materials and methods: In this study, the fifth product of MODIS Terra called (Mod11C3 v005) with a spatial resolution of 5×5 kilometer and a Daytime time period, which became monthly data after the necessary processing, was used. In this study, considering the significant precision of day-night-based physics algorithm, Wan et al. (2002) has used this method to study Daytime LST in Iran. Then, they were decoded and an array with the dimensions of 4855×62258 was obtained. Land surface temperature zoning was conducted by using the geostatistical method of kriging with the lowest error rate and the highest precision in mountainous areas.Results and discussion: The statistical characteristics of LST in Iran during different months showed that the highest average of LST in Iran with 46.1 ° C was in July. In the warm period of the year, and in particular, in the hot zones of Iran (the southern coasts) there is less variation in the temperature of the country, which consequently leads to less variation in LST in the country, and less spatial autocorrelation should be observed in the warm half of the year, which indicates a more stable temperature in the warm period of the year. The study of LST during the 15-year period from 2001 to 2015 based on the output of the MODIS sensor for different months of the year showed that the distribution of LST in Iran was severely affected by geographical conditions, especially its latitude and topographic condition.Conclusion: From the west to the east and from the north to the south, there was an increase in LST in all months of the year. The Lut desert is the warmest area in the country with the temperatures rising to 59° C in the warm days. The spatial processing of Daytime LST in Iran showed that LST was strongly affected by latitude and altitude, and the topographic conditions played an important role in the spatiotemporal distribution of LST, which is completely consistent with the studies conducted by who stated that each temperature range has a high degree of consistency with its environmental and geographical properties, in particular its elevation, latitude and slope characteristics.Although the temperature zones provided for the various months of the year have the considerable spatial continuity, the parts of a temperature cluster have appeared in the form of islands in other zones, indicating the effect of complex topographic and local conditions on the occurrence of these temperature islands compared to its surroundings, which causes a spatial variation in temperature and an increase in the desire to LST clustering in Iran, or in other words, to climatic implantation.
Original Article
Zahra Mashayekhi; Gholam Ali Sharzehi; Afshin Danehkar; Vahid Majed
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 69-88
Abstract
Introduction: Stated preferences methods are a set of economic valuation of environmental goods and services methods which elicit the individual preferences for goods and services using hypothetical market behavior situations. They include contingent valuation (CVM) and choice experiment (CE) methods ...
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Introduction: Stated preferences methods are a set of economic valuation of environmental goods and services methods which elicit the individual preferences for goods and services using hypothetical market behavior situations. They include contingent valuation (CVM) and choice experiment (CE) methods which share a common theoretical basis in explaining the behavior of choice. Based on neoclassical economic theory, WTP/ WTA estimates derived by the CVM and CE should be the same. However, several recent studies have shown that they differ. The goal of this article is to compare the ability of the CVM and the CE to elicit WTA for conservation and environmental status improvement of Hara forests. Materials and methods: To achieve this goal, the WTA of local communities living in the areas adjacent to these forests was evaluated based on data derived from questionnaire surveys. The CE and CVM questionnaires with dichotomous choice format were carefully designed with WTA measure and local people were asked about their preferences for reduction of access to Hara forests under hypothetical scenarios in which they would receive monetary compensation for lessening or forgoing forest utilization. The collected data were analyzed using conditional logit and binary logit models. Results and discussion: The results showed that when people are faced with different formats hypothetical questions, show a different behavior. The results of conditional logit model showed that more than half (57.75%) of local respondents tend to receive compensation for increases in environmental risk associated with conservation programs. They prefer recreational opportunities to other two attributes (Hara cutting and fishing) with a compensation of 233940 IRR day-1. The results of binary logit model for CVM survey data showed that 99 percent of respondents willing to accept a reduction in their forest utilization and participate in the protection programs. The mean WTA estimated 331411 IRR/household/day (9942330 IRR/month). Then the welfare values estimated by the two methods were compared. The findings from this comparison showed that welfare value estimated through the CVM (331411 IRR/household/day) is much smaller and approximately one-sixth those obtained by corresponding CE (1959000 IRR/Day). The results also suggest that the CE method has a greater capacity to explain the choice made by consumers. This is because in the CVM only a single attribute, price, is used to describe the interested good and the choice of individuals is affected only by the bid amounts and socioeconomic variables, while in CE, the multiple attributes are used for describing the good and environmental change alternatives which causes the choices of people affected by interaction with the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents. Meanwhile, the CE method is effective for estimating welfare changes at different levels of environmental change, while the CVM method estimates the value of a change in a single level, which is also a high level of protection. Conclusion: Due to the divergence of the results, it is impossible to say which method is more credible. It can only be acknowledged that the CE method can help decision makers and policymakers to prioritize different aspects of decision-making by gaining useful information about the final WTA of community members for the various attributes that improve on the project or the proposed design.
Original Article
Narges Ravantab; Mohsen Safaie; Ehsan Kamrani; Mohammad Momeni
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 89-100
Abstract
Introduction: Feeding habits studies are one of the most important subject in fisheries science. The investigation on feeding habits of true crabs is one of the most important factors in the study of growth and survival of crabs. Distribution, growth, reproduction of crabs are largely dependent on the ...
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Introduction: Feeding habits studies are one of the most important subject in fisheries science. The investigation on feeding habits of true crabs is one of the most important factors in the study of growth and survival of crabs. Distribution, growth, reproduction of crabs are largely dependent on the availability of prey. Materials and methods: Feeding habits of the Indo-pacific swimming crab, Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867) were studied in the northern Persian Gulf during the period from June 2015 to May 2016. Sampling was conducted along coastal waters by monitoring bottom shrimp trawlers. Results and discussion: A total 371 stomach were measured of which, 197 were full and 174 were empty. Crabs stomach contents included: 60.75% crustaceans, 11.5% fish, 8.6% molluscs, 6.1% seagrass, 5.3% mixture and 7.7% undetectable and non-food as sand and gravel. The gut vacuity index was 46.9% during the research which showed medium nutriment in this animal. The crustaceans, fish and molluscs are the dominant main food in gut. The results indicated that gut vacuity index was not statistically different between crab with barnacles and crabs without barnacles (P> 0.05). Conclusion: The recorded results showed that this species is omnivorous and its diet medium. There were no significant differences in the preference for food items in the different sex of the crabs. The Indo-pacific swimming crab as other portunid crabs are carnivores with a preference for animal food and the behavior of active predators of sessile and slow-moving macro-invertebrates.
Original Article
Amir Ansari; Reza Jamshidi
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 101-110
Abstract
Introduction: The mega-city of Arak being located in a semi-arid and dry region and proximity to major wind erosion centers especially Meighan desert and wetland is facing the problem of air pollution.The main objective of this study is Identification of Sources and Tracking Dust Storm Routes Entering ...
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Introduction: The mega-city of Arak being located in a semi-arid and dry region and proximity to major wind erosion centers especially Meighan desert and wetland is facing the problem of air pollution.The main objective of this study is Identification of Sources and Tracking Dust Storm Routes Entering from Domestic Sources to Arak Metropolitan Using HYSPLIT Model. Materials and methods: The present study was carried out using HYSPLIT model, NAAPS model, MODIS satellite imageries and GADS weather data from NECEP weather prediction center for June 22nd, 2016 (Tir 2nd). Modeling was performed using retroviral tracking method for identifying motion direction of dust particles in three stations with a height of 10, 200, and 500 meters, respectively. Results and discussion: The research results demonstrated that most obtained motion directions not only cross Kashan desert and Qom dessert lands and are a source of dust storms but also Meighan dessert wetland and its surrounding dessert lands are the main source of dust particles of the Mega City of Arak. The forward direction of dust particles transporting from Meighan dessert wetland, Kashan dessert and Qom dessert lands in a distance more than 400 km towards north-west of Iran influences the Air Quality Index (AQI) of cities such as Arak, Shazand, Hamedan and even Sanandaj. Conclusion: These findings are in agreement with the optical depth of dust particles and the amount of surface dust in terms of NAAPS model and the suspended particles concentration in the cities located on the direction of particles dissipation. Also, these results which are in accordance with the previous studies in terms of erosion assessment indicating that the numerical models have the ability for tracking and identifying sources of dust storms satisfactorily.
Original Article
Mohammad Gholizadeh; Majid Alinejad
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 111-126
Abstract
Introduction: With the increase in population and more demand for agricultural and aquaculture activities the importance of water resource quality and quantity have increased and consequently surface water resources are faced with pollution more than other water resources. Generalizing point measurements ...
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Introduction: With the increase in population and more demand for agricultural and aquaculture activities the importance of water resource quality and quantity have increased and consequently surface water resources are faced with pollution more than other water resources. Generalizing point measurements of water quality characteristics to maps is of special significance in most water resources studies. Interpolation techniques may be used to estimate unknown parameter values. The aim of this study is to use the best interpolation method for water quality assessment of Zarin Gol River and the effect of different human activities. Materials and methods: For this purpose, samples were collected from 12 study stations in winter and spring of 2016. Then, the spatial variations of physical and chemical parameters of surface water were determined including DO, NO3, PO4, Turbidity, pH and TSS and Hilsenhoff index (water quality index) using interpolation functions based on cross validation technique (lowest value of RMSE, highest value of R2 and lowest close to zero values of spatial data MBE and MAE) of deterministic and geostatistical methods in GIS environment. Results and discussion: The result showed that for all the studied parameters, kriging method was suitable compared to IDW and was selected for mapping. The result of modelling showed that the maximum value of Helsenhoff index was observed in stations 2 and 10 (5.31 and 5.2 respectively) in winter season with the relatively weak class in terms of water quality. The result of indices showed that stations were located after fish farm more pollution than their before stations and away from the farms have had the self-purification process. Conclusion: Investigation of special variations of environmental characteristics of water showed that increasing physical and chemical parameters of surface water along the river including wastewater discharge of villages, fish farms and agricultural activities have direct impact on water quality and pollution level increases and water quality decreases from up to down the river.
Original Article
Yasaman Taj Abadi; Mohamadreza Jalili Ghazizade; Iman Moslehi
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 127-140
Abstract
Introduction: One of the challenges facing water and wastewater companies around the world is water loss from water distribution networks following after burst and leakage, which imposes high economic, social and environmental costs on these companies. So every year, a large part of the budget of water ...
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Introduction: One of the challenges facing water and wastewater companies around the world is water loss from water distribution networks following after burst and leakage, which imposes high economic, social and environmental costs on these companies. So every year, a large part of the budget of water and wastewater companies is allocated for repair and rehabilitation of the pipe network. Therefore, knowing the burst frequency will help to estimate network leakage and select appropriate management strategies for leakage. Various factors affect the failure of water distribution pipes, one of the most important factors of these is water pressure. Therefore, the development of models to predict precisely failure based on effective factors is necessary to achieve optimal leakage management in water distribution networks. Materials and methods: In the present study, using a developed model and Pressure and burst field data analysis in urban water distribution network, the relationship between pressure and burst rate for a district of Tehran has been determined. The study area has 516 km of main pipelines that include many types of material like polyethylene, ductile iron, steel, PVC and asbestos cement. Both polyethylene and ductile iron pipes were selected for the investigation because they consist 93 percent of the network length. After collecting and revising the statistics and information about the burst and pressures recorded during the years 1386 to 1395, we calculate the average zone point and the pressure index at this point and assigning it to the whole area. At last the pressure-burst relation for each material of the pipes were presented individually. The prediction model of the failure consists of two parts including independent and dependent parts which the pressure parameter is linked through a power component to the failure rates. In this study, the maximum daily pressure at the average zone point was used as a pressure index in the pressure-burst relationship. Results and discussion: Pressure-burst relationship for polyethylene and ductile iron based on maximum daily pressure index is presented separately. In the obtained relationships for comparison, both average of maximum daily pressure and maximum of maximum daily pressure values were used. The results of this study showed that in the dependent pressure part, average of maximum daily pressure index presents a more accurate result in comparison with the maximum of maximum daily pressure index and has a higher correlation coefficient. The cause of the inappropriateness of the maximum of maximum daily pressure can be temporary and impermanent overload in one or more days of the year. As it may not really have caused a failure but has been involved in the calculation; therefore, this index does not have an accurate prediction of burst. Also, the relations are obtained for two condition with a power pressure of 3 and an unknown situation, which indicates that, in the case of unknown power, higher correlation coefficients are obtained such that for polyethylene the power is equal to 3 and Correlation coefficient = 0.97 and for ductile iron, the power was equal to 2.7 and correlation coefficient =0.99. Conclusion: According to the obtained relationships, it can be concluded that the pressure-burst model could well predict the number of failure of main pipes in the water distribution networks. The results also showed that the pressure variations affect on burst frequency in the polyethylene more than the ductile iron and The exponent of pressure in the failure prediction model is also depends on the pipe material and is larger for polyethylene in comparison with ductile iron material, and the average of maximum daily pressure index was a more accurate indicator in the failure prediction model. According to the result of this paper we can improve pressure management and rehabilitation strategies for reduction burst frequency. By applying accurate pressure management and Awareness of material susceptibility to burst, it is possible to reduce failure rate and consequently, water loss.
Original Article
Hadis Ghanavati; Ahmad Fatahi Ardakani; Akram Neshat
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 141-158
Abstract
Introduction: One of the air pollution that has been witnessed in western and southwestern regions of recent times is the dust and dust phenomenon. Dust is one of the atmospheric phenomena that has adverse environmental effects and impacts. Dust storms have had many negative effects on health, economics, ...
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Introduction: One of the air pollution that has been witnessed in western and southwestern regions of recent times is the dust and dust phenomenon. Dust is one of the atmospheric phenomena that has adverse environmental effects and impacts. Dust storms have had many negative effects on health, economics, society and the environment, resulting in huge damage to human resources, health, industry, and especially agriculture. The purpose of this study is to quantify the tangible (market) and intangible (non-market) damages caused by the dust phenomenon in the city of Ardakan. Materials and methods: The data required in this study were obtained from the statistics and data recorded in Ardakan offices, as well as the completion of 244 double bounded dichotomous choice questionnaires in agricultural sector and 509 questionnaires in the air pollution and urban green area using 30 pre-tests and Michels And Carson in 2016. In this study, the tangible and intangible damages of dust are valued using the conditional valuation method and market price. Using the logit model, the factors that affect the willingness to pay are estimated for each section using Shazam 9 and math calculations using Maple Version 18 software. Results and discussion: The results of this study showed that income and education variables have a positive and significant effect on people's willingness to pay for air pollution and urban green space. The variables of age, number of households and gender have a negative and significant effect on people's willingness to pay for air pollution and urban green space against dust phenomena. In agricultural sector, variables such as age, number of employed people, education and income have a positive and significant effect on farmers' willingness to pay for agricultural products against dust phenomena. The total value of the damages against the dust phenomena to maintain air pollution is 33185478480 Rials, the maintenance of agricultural products 50431570000 Rials and the maintenance of green space against dust of 30736160140 Rials per year for the city of Ardakan. Also the tangible losses of dust phenomena in terms of increasing water consumption due to washing in dusty days is 2762736640 Rials, negative effect of dust on physical health and treatment costs and mortality due to asthma and bronchitis diseases 15548414040 Rials and negative effect The livestock sector and treatment costs and the lost cattle were calculated 131451400000 Rials using a market approach. Conclusion: The results indicate that the total value of intangible damages is 114353208620 Rls and the tangible value of 149762550680 Rls in 2016 for the city of Ardakan. The value of willingness to pay people in agriculture was higher than other sectors. The livestock and poultry sector also has the highest figure among other tangible costs. Therefore, this estimate provides policy makers and authorities with the necessary guidance for controlling the effects of dust on human environments.
Original Article
Seyed Komail Tayebi; Fariba Sadat Aghili; Leila Allahdadian
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 159-172
Abstract
Introduction: Given the role of the environment and free trade to achieve sustainable development in recent years, in this study, we survey the effect of trade liberalization on the quality of the environment. In simple words, the removal or reduction of trade barriers in international trade is trade ...
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Introduction: Given the role of the environment and free trade to achieve sustainable development in recent years, in this study, we survey the effect of trade liberalization on the quality of the environment. In simple words, the removal or reduction of trade barriers in international trade is trade liberalization. On the other hand, oil as a factor has a direct impact on the prices of goods and services and the trade flow, and is one of the factors affecting on air pollution the oil exporting and importing countries. Because oil is important in environment-related issues, this paper studied the effect of oil price shocks on the quality of the environment. Materials and methods: To achieve this goal, we used panel data methods and collected data for 1980-2013. Results and discussion: The results show that both trade liberalization and oil shocks have a significant and negative effect on environmental pollution and carbon dioxide levels in the air. Conclusion: Countries can achieve the high quality of the environment and sustainable development by trade liberalization. Given that most shocks led to increase oil prices, so countries with low consumption and alternative clean energy can reduce environmental pollution.
Original Article
Zohreh Fanni; Mohammad Amin Hounakzahi; Manijeh Ghahroudi
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 173-190
Abstract
Introduction: Environmental problems are one of the most important issues in major cities, metropolises and it is the result of confliction with the natural environment because urban development is necessarily associated with the domination of buildings, industries, transportation, and economical activities ...
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Introduction: Environmental problems are one of the most important issues in major cities, metropolises and it is the result of confliction with the natural environment because urban development is necessarily associated with the domination of buildings, industries, transportation, and economical activities on natural spaces. Strategic Environmental Assessment A comprehensive, formulated and systematic environmental impact assessment of policies, plans, and plans with their options include reporting through their findings and their application in the decision-making process.Materials and methods: A descriptive and analytical method was used to study and evaluate the strategic environmental impacts of urban development, Based on the concepts of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), using MADM statistical techniques and operational research, such as Analytic Hierarchy Process Analyzer (AHP),for proper emphasizing and valuation between experts (whose content was calculated using the Cochran formula) related to urban management and environment such as municipality, environment, governorate, natural resources, etc. were distributed and completed. Finally, the results were analyzed by Expert choice software.Results and discussion: The aim of the SEA process is to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of the environmental effects of a comprehensive plan and minimize the negative impacts of the implementation of the plan. For strategic evaluation, 2 criteria and 10 sub-criteria were selected which after assessing and evaluating the environmental criteria, sanitary exclusion of wastewater and residues were weighed 0.417 and reducing air pollution with a weight of 0.245 are the most important and in the top priorities, and sub-criteria of emphasis on improving the quantity and quality of water resources with a relative weight of 0.208, restoration of green space or missed pastures with relative weight of 0.077 and emphasis on the increased in soil quality and its fertility with a relative weight of.053 are in the third to fifth priority levels, respectively. Among the non-criteria related to the physical component, the realization of a healthy city plan, increased in access to open space and green, and payingattention to the urban architecture of the native with weights of 0.34, 0.264 and 0.159 are in the first, second and third, respectively. Quality improvement measurements for informal settlements with a relative weight of 0.094, realization of optimum density with relative weight of 0.085 and the optimal distribution of applications in the city with a relative weight of 0.058 are in the third to sixth priority.Conclusion: Zahedan has suburban neighborhoods such as Shir Abad, Karim Abad, Babaeyan, etc. Most of these neighborhoods are deprived of welfare infrastructure such as water, sanitation and... The structure and texture of soil geology are such that there is no possibility of constructing wells, According to the results of strategic assessment, urban environmental pollution such as sanitary wastewater-residues, pollution, air pollution, water pollution, restoration and access to open and green urban areas, access to a healthy and habitable city, attention to architecture - local urbanism and ... which all of them are the consequence of accelerated development of modern cities. Therefore, more attention of officials, planners and urban managers is required to prevent more urban environmental degradation, and it is necessary to provide citizens with fair access to welfare indicators.
Original Article
Mohammadreza Shiri; Reza Ataei; Farid Golzardi
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 191-206
Abstract
Introduction: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing the environmental impacts associated with a product, process or activity, by identifying, quantifying and evaluating the resources consumed, and all emissions and wastes released into the environment. This study examined the environmental ...
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Introduction: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing the environmental impacts associated with a product, process or activity, by identifying, quantifying and evaluating the resources consumed, and all emissions and wastes released into the environment. This study examined the environmental impacts for Maize production under Moghan climatic conditions by using LCA methodology.Materials and methods: The analysis considered the entire system, which was required to produce one ton of maize grain. For this purpose, a functional unit was assumed based on ISO14040 methods. It included the extraction of raw materials (e. g. fossil fuels and minerals), the production and transportation of farming inputs (e. g. fertilizers) and all agricultural operations in the field (e. g. tillage and harvest). In a first step, all emissions and the consumption of resources connected to the different processes were listed in a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and related to a common unit, which is one ton of grain. Next a Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) was done, in which the inventory data were aggregated into indicators for environmental effects, which included climate change (global warming), acidification and eutrophication (terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems), land use, phosphate resource depletion, potassium resource depletion and water resource depletion. After normalization and weighting of the indicator values it was possible to calculate summarizing indicators for resource depletion and environmental impacts.Results and discussion: The values for climate change (global warming), acidification and eutrophication (terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems), land use, phosphate resource depletion, potassium resource depletion and water resource depletion were etismated 0.04, 0.29, 0.50, 0.11, 0.03, 2.27, 0.75, 0.03 and 0.56, respectively. So, among environmental effect categories (EcoX) the highest environmental impacts were observed in eutrophication terrestrial and acidification categories and among resource deplation categories (RDI), the depletion of fossil resources had the greatest negative environmental impact for the maize production in Moghan region.Conclusion: It seems that management systems based on low input system including organic fertilizers and minimum tillage could be regarded as alternative management strategies to reduce problematic environmental impacts.
Original Article
Farhad Nouri Najafi; Hadi Veisi; Reza Mirzaee
Volume 16, Issue 1 , April 2018, Pages 207-224
Abstract
Introduction: Recently, land use change is one of the main possible causes in losing biodiversity and ecosystem services. Dams as main human-made structures in order to save surface water play an important role in this regards. Due to the rapid increasing of dam construction over last 40 years in Iran, ...
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Introduction: Recently, land use change is one of the main possible causes in losing biodiversity and ecosystem services. Dams as main human-made structures in order to save surface water play an important role in this regards. Due to the rapid increasing of dam construction over last 40 years in Iran, the contradiction between dam productivity and the loss of ecosystem services has become an issue of increasing concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Sahand Dam construction on land use, land use changes and ecosystem services. Materials and methods: In this study three Landsat satellite images were used to track land use changes over a period of 28 years (1989, 2006 and 2017). First, these images were used for geometric, atmospheric and topographic correction. The maximum possibility of different land uses and cover were determined using supervised classification method and their accuracy checked again by field inspection. The user authenticity and Kappa coefficient calculated and resulted in value of 63 and 79 percent respectively. The value of ecosystem services and changes in land uses carried out using aerial photographs and satellite imagery between 1989 and 2017 throughout 49400 ha of areas around Sahand dam in East Azarbaijan province. Results and discussion: Results showed that the total area for rangeland decreased significantly between years 1989 and 2017 while there has been a noticeable increasing in cropping land. In general, the share of area under rangeland decreased by 56% over period 1989-2017. The total area for rainfed and irrigated cropping areas increased by 38 and 32 percent respectively indicating significant changes in this area. In regards to ecosystem services value, land uses changes from rangeland to crop land led to a 35900000 dollars annually loss in ecosystem services value (10.6 $ per hectare per year). Conclusions: To conclude, although dam construction and shifting from natural land toward crop land may be profitable but due to depletion of the ecosystem capacities to deliver ecosystem services, long-term losses may exceed short-term gains. Land use and policy making should aim at balancing society needs and preferences, while considering long-term negative effects of dams and ecosystem service losses. Therefore, providing a land management roadmap for future economic development programs is receiving a great priority. It will be beneficial if natural ecosystems are preserved and used adequately.
