Evaluating Climate Change and Anthropogenic effects on inducing Salt Storms & Aerosol Hazards Risk in Urmia Lake

Urmia Lake is the largest inland wetland in Iran, which is shrinking. The gradual drying of Lake Urmia has been a national and international issue for several years. In recent decades, climate change, dam constrictions, unsustainable industrial development and excess exploitation of groundwater for agriculture have been the main cause of drying of Lake Urmia. It has been proven that in the case of lakes drying up, this change has an effect on the global climate. Considering the salinity of Urmia Lake and direction of the wind (principally in a W-E trending), the eastern coastal area of Urmia Lake is seriously in danger of salt intrusion into the soil and underground water that can totally affect the lives of the local population. It also endangers the existence of fauna and flora. This paper attempts to clarify the danger of drying Urmia Lake and salt dumping at the beds of lake and determine the effective parameters, using GIS® and ENVI software. Among the causes of Urmia lake dryness, the dam constrictions have been identified as the cases that has more drastic effects on Urmia lake.