Hazard Assessment of Desertification Using the New Model of Proposed MEDALUS

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Former M.Sc. Student, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shiraz, Shiraz

2 Associate Prof., Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shiraz, Shiraz

Abstract

An increasing trend of natural resources degradation threatens human life dramatically. Desertification process is the main sign of land degradation. The principal aim of this research was an assessment of potential hazard of desertification using the MEDALUS model in the study of Golsara Torbat Heydarieh area in the province of Khorasan Razavi. The MEDALUS model was evaluated based on 5 key factors, namely: soil quality, climate quality, vegetation quality, management quality and trend of desertification (suggested factors). The quality of each factor was evaluated using the geometric mean of its indices. The desertification intensity map was prepared based on the geometric mean of all 5 key factors. In the Golsara region, 3 fragile classes (F1, F2, F3) and 1 potential class (P) and 1 non affected class (N) were evaluated. The MEDALUS model was modified by of adding a trend factor in which 3 other steps were revised. 1. After preparation the desertification intensity map based on the MEDALUS model, a new map of desertification intensity of the study area was prepared based on 4 classes of low to very severe situations showing 66% of the study area was under a moderate potential of desertification. 2. By upgrading the map of current productivity to potential productivity the current state of desertification that wasn’t considered in the MEDALUS model was run showing 60% of the study area was under a severe state of desertification. 3. Based on the map of current productivity to potential productivity, a new classification involving two main classes of potential risk and actual risk were defined for the desertification intensity map of revised the MEDALUS model. According to the final revised map of desertification in the Golsara region, 93.4% of the area was classified as the main class of actual risk and 6.6% as the main class of potential risk. These results point to the inefficiency of the current the MEDALUS model in the study area without considering the current degradation status parameter; therefore, we recommend the use of the modified model.

Keywords

References

Abrisham E. 2004. Assessment and mapping of desertification using FAOUNEP, ICD and MICD models in Fakhrabad-Mehriz (Yazd). M.Sc. thesis in combating desertification. University of Tehran, 130 p.
Ahmadi H, Esmaeelpour Y, Moradi A, Ghoami H. 2019. Assessing the desertification status of Jazmourian watershed using IMDPA and ESAs models. Desert Ecosystem Engineering Journal, 22(8):73–88. (In Persian).
Aliakbari H. 2012. Zoning risk of desertification in the plateau of KHAF. M.Sc. thesis. Department of Earth Sciences. Shahid Beheshti University. (In Persian).
Asma AA, Anwar S, Waleed KA, Nabil AE, Mahmmod AR. 2002. Desertification in the Arab Region: Analysis of current status and trends. Journal of Arid Environments, 51(4): 521–545.
Azadnia F. 2007. Investigation of water and soil in desertification of Dehloran region (Abvghyr plain).  M.Sc. thesis. Faculty of Natural Resources. Tehran University. (In Persian).
Bakhshandehmehr A. 2009. Evaluation of MEDALUS model in Segzi Region. M.Sc. thesis. Isfahan University of Technology. (In Persian).
Dregne HE. 1991. Desertification of arid lands. Chur: Hrarwood Academic Publishers.
FAO-UNEP 1984. Provisional methodology for assessment and mapping of desertification. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme. Rome, Italy, 84 p.
Farajzadeh M, Nikeghbal M. 2007. Evaluation medalus model for desertification hazard zonation using GIS; Study area: Iyzadkhast Plain, Iran. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(16): 2622–2630.
Farmahini Farahani A, Darvish M. 2012. Assessment and generating desertification map using FAO and UNEP method in Kavire-e-Meighan Basin. Iran. J. Range Desert Res., 19(4): 547–556. (In Persian).
Giordano L, Grauso L, Schino G. 2002. Desertification vulnerability in Sicily. Conf. on New Trend in Water and Environmental Engineering for Safety and Life, Capri, Italy.
Jian G, Wang T, Xue X, Shaoxiu M, Peng Fe. 2009. Monitoring aeolian desertification process in Hulunbir grassland during 1975–2006, Northern China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 166 (1):563–571.
Kazeminia AR, Rangzan K, Mahmoud Abadi M. 2017. Assessment of desertification using the MEDALUS model (Case study: The lands of west Ahvaz). Journal of RS and GIS for Natural Resources, 8(2): 111–126. (In Persian).
Khojeh N, Ghoddosi J, Esmaili R. 2017. Investigation of the effect of earth environmental factors on initiation and expansion of gully erosion by using geographical information system (Case study in Temer Ghareh Ghozi, Kalaleh, Golestan Province). Journal of Watershed Management Research, 8 (15): 202–212. (In Persian).
Ladisa G, Todorovic M, Trisorio-Liuzzi G. 2002. Characterization of area sensitive to desertification in southern Italy.
 Proceeding of the International Conference on New Trend in Water and Environmental Engineering for Safety and Life: Eco-compatible Solutions for Aquatic Environmental. Capri, Italy, June 24–28.
Lonergan S. 2005. The role of UNEP in desertification research and mitigation. Journal of Arid Environments, 63(3): 533–534.
Mohammad Ghasemi S, Zehtabian G, Ahmadi H. 2008. Assessment of desertification intensity based on water index using MEDALUS methodology. Pajouhesh & Sazandegi, 80 (3): 59–67.
Masoudi M, Elhaei Sahar M. 2018. A Comparison of land degradation risk using the RALDE2 proposed model in two townships with different climates in the Khuzestan Province. Watershed Management Researches, 120 (3): 56–77. (In Persian).
Masoudi M, Jokar P. 2017. A new model for desertification assessment using geographic information system (GIS) − A case study, Runiz Basin, Iran. Polish Journal of Ecology, 65 (2): 236–246.
Masoudi M, Jokar P, Pradhan B. 2018. A new approach for land degradation and desertification assessment using geospatial techniques. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 18 (4): 1133–1140.
Salehi M. 2017. Evaluation and modelling of the current state of land degradation in Fars province using remote sensing and GIS. MSc thesis in desert regions management. School of Agricultural. Shiraz University. (In Persian).
Salunkhe SS, Bera AK, Rao SS, Venkataraman VR, Raj U, Murthy YVNK. 2018. Evaluation of indicators for desertification risk assessment in part of Thar Desert Region of Rajasthan using geospatial techniques. Journal of Earth System Science, 127 (8): 116–140.
Sepehr A. 2006. Assessment of current desertification using GIS, RS to provide the region model with an emphasis on MEDALUS method. M.Sc. thesis in desert regions management. School of Agricultural. Shiraz University. (In Persian).
Sepehr A, Hassanli A, Ekhtesasi MR. 2007. Quantitative assessment of desertification in south of Iran using MEDALUS method. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 134(1-3): 243–254.
Shariyary A, Hoseini M, Ekhtesasi M, Fakhire A. 2011. Assessment of land degradation in Sistan region with emphasis on wind erosion. Journal of Geography and Development, 8 (20): 21–36. (In Persian).
Vesali SA, Zehtabian Gh, Azarnivand, H. 2016. Determination of the most effective indicators of water and irrigation criteria in desertification intensity (Case study: Kashan and Aran Bidgol Plains). Desert Management, 31 (6): 25–38. (In Persian).
Vero´n SR, Paruelo JM, Oesterheld M. 2006. Assessing desertification. Journal of Arid Environments, 66 (4): 751–763.
Xu DY, Kang XW, Zhuang DF, Pan JJ. 2010. Multi-scale quantitative assessment of the relative roles of climate change and human activities in desertification-A case study of the Ordos Plateau, China. Journal of Arid Environments, 74 (4): 498–507.
Zakerinejad R, Masoudi M. 2019. Quantitative mapping of desertification risk using the modified MEDALUS model: a case study in the Mazayejan Plain, Southwest Iran. AUC Geographica, 54(2): 232–239.
Zehtabian Gh, Khosravi AM, Azarnivand H. 2015. Evaluation of desertification intensity in Kashan region from the perspective of soil criteria. Sixth National Conference on Watershed Management Science and Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University. (In Persian).
Watershed Management Research
Volume 34, Issue 3 - Serial Number 132
September 2021
Pages 133-148

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 26 December 2020
  • Revise Date: 17 January 2021
  • Accept Date: 15 March 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics