Evaluation of dust emission potential of geomorphology classes in Ilam province with emphasis on land use change

Dust entrainment, transport, and deposition are important geomorphic surface processes that have adverse environmental effects and consequences. Various natural environments are resistant to wind erosion until they lose their stability, but when human activities change the stability of these geomorphic surfaces, areas prone to wind erosion increase and the potential for dust emission increases. In this study, we tried to evaluate the dust emission potential of geomorphology classes in Ilam province with emphasis on land use change. For this purpose, at first, the geomorphology map was produced based on the preferential dust sources geomorphic (PDS) classification scheme with a combination of remote sensing data and a number of thematic maps (lithology and soil). Then, using Landsat 7 (ETM +) and Landsat 8 (OLI) images, land use was extracted for 2000 and 2015, respectively, and by comparing them, a land use change map was produced. Finally, the land use change map was overlaid on the geomorphology map to determine the status of land use change in each geomorphology class. The results showed that in Ilam province there are 6 classes of geomorphology based on the preferential dust sources geomorphic (PDS) classification scheme. In most of these classes, the most important change of land use that has taken place has been the change of land use from rangeland to agriculture. Although geomorphology classes of 2a, 3c and 7 have little potential for dust emission, land use change not only in these three classes but also in other geomorphology classes has increased the dust emission potential of geomorphology classes.