Investigation of morpho-climatic characteristics of gullies in order to classify regions affected by gully erosion in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiary province

Applied research about preventing gully initiation and expansion، needs basic knowledge about the types and morphometric characteristics of gullies. The purpose of current research is the classification of gullied regions based on morpho-climatic characteristics in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiary province. In this research، two gullied regions covering an area about 500 ha were selected in each climate zone and three representative gullies were chosen in each region. The morphometric characteristics were measured in each studied area. Classification of gullied regions was done using cluster analysis based on quantitative characteristics. The results indicate that gullied regions in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiary province can be divided to three groups base on morpho-climatic characteristics. Maximum similarity level was 94. 12 percent. A comparison of variance analysis and mean value of variables in groups shows that، annual rainfall، elevation above sea level، gully length، gullied region area and top width of gullies were the most important variables in separating of the groups. Generally، we can emphasize that among all morphometric characteristics; only gully length and top width have the main role in morpho-climatic classification.