Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

2 Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University,

Abstract

Introduction: Wind erosion is one of the most important destructive phenomena leading to land degradation and desertification, which occurs due to blowing of erosive winds over a susceptible soil surface or a smooth land. Iran is mostly located in arid and semiarid climates; consequently, wind erosion dominates large parts of the country due to the climate and land mismanagement. In this regard, Kerman as the largest province in Iran has been under influence of erosive winds with high damaging potential. Wind erosion is a function of two agents including erosivity and erodibility. As wind velocity increases, the rate of wind erosion increases as well, while an increase in threshold friction velocity results in sand drift potential reduction. On the other hand, soil properties can control wind erosion rate through affecting both soil erodibility and threshold velocity. In addition, wind erosion is directly influenced by the direction and velocity of wind. Therefore, for better understanding of this phenomenon, analysis of wind erosivity based on meteorological data is of importance. The aim of this study was to analysis wind erosivity in Kerman province and the wind erosion potential in different parts of the province.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the potential of wind erosion in different parts of Kerman province based on seasonal wind data obtained for the period from 2006 to 2010. For this purpose, eight synoptic stations were selected and wind rose and sand rose were plotted for each station using WR Plot View.8 and Sand Rose Graph 3. For each season and for the whole period, erosive wind speed classes, prevailing wind direction, and the sand rose components including drift potential, sediment load and uni-directional index were obtained for each station.
Results and Discussion: This study results indicated that the intermediate wind speed class i.e. 7.7 to 9.8 m s-1 with the west and southwest directions had the highest frequency at most stations. The most erosive winds occurred during winter and summer, while the lowest ones were found in autumn. In winter, the highest wind speed class i.e. >13 m s-1 was the most frequent class. However, precipitations mostly occurring during winter can moderate the sand transport potential, since the higher precipitation causes a higher soil moisture level and enhanced threshold velocity. In addition, Jiroft station had the most frequent calm winds, whereas Lalehzar station exhibited the least frequency of these winds as this site is located in a mountainous region. Among the stations, the highest potential of sand transport (1637 vector unit) and the greatest sediment discharge (102.62 kg m-1 s-1) were observed at Rafsanjan station. However, the lowest sediment discharge was found at Jiroft station with 22.40 kg m-1 s-1. In all stations, the values of DPt were more than 400 indicating high wind erosion potentials in most areas of the province. The assessment of the uni-directional index illustrated that the investigated wind properties varied for different seasons and regions. Analysis of this index showed that Zarand and Jiroft had multi-directional winds, while other stations with a uni-directional index ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 experienced bi-directional winds with moderate variations. Furthermore, the analysis of resultant drift direction implied that the sand transport direction in Kerman, Jiroft, Sirjan, Rafsanjan and Shahrbabak sites was from west to east, at Lalehzar station was from southwest to northeast, at Bam station was from north to south, and at Zarand station was from northwest to southeast. The highest values of total drift potential in Bam, Jiroft and Zarand were obtained in summer season, while the maximum total drift potential was recorded in wintertime for Kerman, Rafsanjan, Shahrbabak, Sirjan and Lalehzar locations. The findings of this study revealed the significance of wind erosivity analysis in order to make a better understanding of wind erosion processes and achieve a more suitable strategy to combat this environmental threat.
Conclusions: It was concluded that due to climate conditions, Kerman province as the largest province of Iran has experienced high potentials of wind erosion and sand transport. In addition, the prevailing direction and most frequent velocity classes of winds differ among different parts of the province demonstrating the possibility of the formation of different features of wind erosion. Finally, the high values of DPt (> 400) were obtained for most stations, showed a high wind erosion potential in the province.

Keywords

1- Ahmadi H., and Mesbahzadeh T. 2011. Comparison of sand drifts potential estimating, using momentum method and Fryberger velocity classes method (case study: Jask and Kerman). Journal of Water and Soil 25(1): 11-18. )In Persian with English abstract(
2- Ahmadi H., Naeini S., and Yadegari M. 2013. Use of anemometric results and threshold velocities for determination of proper regions where sand storms are generated (case study: around the synoptic station of Yazd). Desert 17(3): 225-231.
3- Anvari S.M., and Mohammadi H. 2009. Estimation of sand transport potential and the resultant of erosive winds of corridor Jezink. The 2nd Conference on Regional of Natural and Environment. Feb 2009, Arsanjan, Iran. (In Persian)
4- Eidiyan E., Charkhabi A. H., Arshem A., and Rajabi M.R. 2011. The analysis of erosive winds in how to carry wind sediments in the Bostan areas, the west of Khuzestan. The 2nd National Conference on Combating Desertification and Sustainable Development of Iran Desert Wetlands. 23-24 September 2011, Arak, Iran. (In Persian)
5- Ekhtesasi M.R., and Dadfar S. 2014. Investigation on relationship between coastal hurricanes and sand dunes morphology in south of Iran. Physical Geography Research Quarterly 45(4): 61-72. )In Persian with English abstract.
6- Ekhtesasi M.R., Dadfar S., Kamrani F., and Shah Bandari R. 2011. Identification of storm areas of desert plains by the combination of wind rose, storm rose and sand rose graph results (case study: Bafgh plain). Iranian Journal of Watershed Management Science and Engineering 5(16): 39-44. )In Persian with English abstract.
7- Ekhtesasi M.R., Saremi Naeini M.A., and Saremi Naeini A. 2006. Design of sand rose graph software, the processor of soil erosion power and sediment. The First National Conference of Wind Erosion, Yazd, Iran, 24-26 January. )In Persian with English abstract.
8- Fryberger S.G., and Dean G. 1979. Dune forms and wind regime, In: McKee, (Ed), a study of global sand seas. US Geological Survey Professional Paper No. 1052. 137-169.
9- Gromkova N., and Butchvarov I. 2010. Applying the model for transformation of the annual climatic wind rose in the air pollution modeling from point source. Bulgarian Geophysical Journal, 36: 40-56.
10- Hanifepoor M., Mashhadi N., Mohammad Khan Sh., and Amir Aslani F. 2015. Determination of wind erosion patterns using the drawing of wind rose and storm rose (case study: Damghan city). The 2nd National Conference on Desert with the Approach for the Management of Arid and Desert Areas. (In Persian)
11- Jafari F., and Khademi H. 2015. Evaluating the rate of atmospheric dust deposition in different locations of Kerman city. Journal of Water and Soil Science 18(70): 207-217. )In Persian with English abstract.
12- Kheyri Sh., Hanifepoor M., and Khosravi H. 2015. Analysis of wind erosion in two statistical periods (1951-1981) and (1982-2012) (case study: Tabriz). International Conference on Sustainable Development, Strategies and Challenges with a Focus on Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism, 24-26 February 2015, Tabriz, Iran. (In Persian)
13- Maghsoudi M. 2007. Understanding of the processes affecting the development of sand (case study: sand effects of Sirjan plain). Geographical Research 56: 149-160. )In Persian with English abstract.
14- Mahmoodabadi M., and Ahmadbeigi B. 2013. Effect of primary particle size distribution on aggregate stability at different size classes. Journal of Water and Soil Science 23(3): 207-219. )In Persian with English abstract(
15- Mahmoodabadi M., and Rajabpour H. 2017. Study on the effect of initial soil moisture content on wind erosion rate using a laboratory wind tunnel. Journal of Water and Soil Conservation 24(2): 167-182. Iin Persian with English abstract(
16- Mahmoodabadi M., and Zamani S. 2012. Effect of wind speed and soil particle size distribution on sediment ‎transport mechanisms due to wind erosion. Watershed Engineering and Management 4(3): 141-151. )In Persian with English abstract.
17- Mahmoodabadi M., Dehghani F., and Azimzadeh H.R. 2011. Effect of soil particle size distribution on wind erosion rate. Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production 1(1): 81-96. )In Persian with English abstract(
18- Mehrabi S., Soltani S., and Jafari R. 2015. Analyzing the relationship between dust storm occurrence and climatic parameters. Journal of Water and Soil Science 19 (71): 69-81. (In Persian)
19- Mosaffaie J., Ekhtesasi M.R., and Salehpour Jam A. 2017. Seasonal variation of the erosion rate using direct measurement. Watershed Management (Pajouhesh and Sazandegi) 115: 48-56. )In Persian with English abstract(
20- Nazari Samani A.A., Dadfar S., and Shahbazi A. 2013. A study on dust storms using wind rose, storm rose and sand rose (case study: Tehran province). Desert 18: 9-18.
21- Nazari Samani A.A., Khosravi H., Mesbahzadeh T., and Rahdari M.R. 2016. Investigate of wind regime and sand drift potential in order to identify of sand dunes forms. Watershed Management (Pajouhesh and Sazandegi) 111: 19-33. )In Persian with English abstract(.
22- Omidvar K., and Nekoonam Z. 2011. An application of wind rose and dust rose in the analysis of dust phenomenon and determining the seasonal regime of dust winds (case study: Sabzevar city). Physical Geography Research Quarterly 43(76): 85-104.
23- Parsamehr A., and Khosravani Z. 2017. Analysis of erosive winds and depositions drift potential in desert regions of Esfahan province. Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research 23(4): 832-842. )In Persian with English abstract(
24- Presley D., and Tatarko J. 2009. Principles of wind erosion and its control. Kansas State University. Available at: http:// www.weru.ksu.edu. (Visited August 18, 2011).
25- Saremi Naini M.M. 2016. Estimation of the frequency of speed and direction of the erosive winds and dust storms in Yazd province, by using wind rose, storm rose and sand rose. Iranian Scientific Association of Desert Management and Control 8: 96-106. )In Persian with English abstract(
26- Tahmasbi Birgani A.M., Ahmadi H., Refahi H., and Ekhtesasi M.R. 2000. Comparison between the sedimentation potential of wind and water erosions by using MPSIAC and IRIFR.E.A models in desert regions of Iran (case study: Ab-bakhsha basin in the Kerman zone). Iranian Natural Resources Journal 53(1): 53-65.)In Persian with English abstract(
27- Tavakolifard A., Ghasemiye H., Nazari Samani A.A., Mashhadi N., and Mirzavand M. 2012. Investigation of role of different land uses in the sand storm by using wind rose and storm rose (case study: Kashan). Environmental Erosion Research Journal 2(2): 25-41. )In Persian with English abstract(
28- Varma S.A.K., Sirmurali M., and Varma S.V.K. 2013. Evolution of wind rose diagrams for RTPP, KADAPA, A.P, India. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development 2: 150-154.
29- Yamani M. 2001. Relationship between the diameter of the sand particles and the frequency of wind speeds in the area of the rig of Kashan. Geographic Research 38: 115-132. (In Persian)
30- Yamani M., Zahab Nazoori S., and Goorabi A. 2011. Morphometric study and causes of Kerman rig deployment through the analysis of wind characteristics and sand grain. Arid Regions Geographic Studies 1(4): 17-33. (In Persian)
31- Zamani S., and Mahmoodabadi M. 2013. Effect of particle-size distribution on wind erosion rate and soil erodibility. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 59(12): 1743-1753.
CAPTCHA Image