نشریه جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی محیطی
سال سی و پنجم شماره 3 (پیاپی 95، پاییز 1403)

Dynamic urban systems undergo constant change and as a result, certain areas of a city acquire a different appearance over time, bearing the marks of decline and decay. The present challenge lies in identifying these disconnected urban areas that have become inefficient. Therefore, the design of indicators for identification purposes should aim to minimize potential ambiguities by providing a robust assessment measure. This article primarily focused on investigating the introduced indicators for identifying different types of inefficient areas in the neighborhoods of Alavi, Nahzat Abad, and Fatemiyeh in Ahvaz Metropolis and developing applicable indicators (social belonging, social cohesion, social cooperation, social security, and social trust) for them. This research adopted an applied approach and employed a survey research method with a particular emphasis on questionnaires. The statistical population comprised residents of the three mentioned neighborhoods and the sample size was determined to be 377 individuals according to the Cochran formula. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was utilized to examine the normality of data distribution, while the sign test was employed to assess the status of research variables. Furthermore, the variables were weighted using the Shannon entropy model and the neighborhoods were ranked using the MABAK technique. The findings derived from the results of the sign test indicated that the neighborhood of Fatemiyeh exhibited a higher average impact coefficient of 0.23 across the five selected research components compared to the other two neighborhoods. Additionally, the results of ranking the selected social components in the three neighborhoods using the MABAK technique revealed that Fatemiyeh Neighborhood secured the top position with an Si value (component and indicator impact value) of 0.221 followed by Nahzat Abad Neighborhood with 0.127 and Alavi Neighborhood with 0.187 ranking second and third, respectively.

This study aimed to evaluate the temporal and spatial variations in surface soil moisture in Iraq, taking into account the influence of both natural fluctuations and human activities on environmental changes. Volumetric soil moisture data with a resolution of 0.25 degrees and daily intervals covering a thirty-year period (1991-2020) were obtained from the Copernicus climate database. Trend analysis was conducted to examine temporal and spatial trends in soil moisture levels. The results indicated a decrease in volumetric soil moisture during warm months and an increase during cold months, with the latter period exhibiting soil moisture values more than twice as high as the former. Furthermore, a declining trend in volumetric soil moisture during the cold months in Iraq was observed based on the evaluation of monthly time series. The average annual volumetric soil moisture in the country was estimated to be 0.164 m3/m3. The lowest soil moisture value was found in southern Iraq near the border with Kuwait (0.093 m3/m3), while the highest value was recorded in the northeastern mountainous region of Iraq (0.240 m3/m3). Notably, there was a gradual decrease in soil moisture from north to south in Iraq. The analysis of maps revealed that the most substantial decreasing trends occurred in January, February, and March, progressively diminishing as the warm season approached. These decreasing trends were predominantly observed along the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, as well as around the Razazah Lake and the Tharthar Lake extending from northwest to southeast. The provinces of Diyala, Maysan, and Wasit, particularly Wasit, consistently exhibited decreasing trends in soil moisture in most months, indicating their vulnerability to soil moisture reduction.

Landslides are a type of mass movement that often result in significant financial and human losses. Effectively mitigating these losses requires identifying high-risk areas. The Qaranqoochay Basin has long been susceptible to landslides due to its geological, physiographic, lithological, climatic, and anthropogenic conditions. This study aimed to assess and zone the landslide risk within this basin. First, a distribution map was created depicting landslides and relevant variables, including slope, aspect, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), lithology, land use, rainfall, and distance from roads, rivers, and faults. The degree of membership for each parameter was then determined using fuzzy membership functions, and the criteria weights were calculated using the CRITIC method. Finally, a landslide susceptibility map was generated using the ARAS multi-criteria decision analysis approach. The results indicated that slope, lithology, and land use were the most influential factors with weights of 0.162, 0.152, and 0.147, respectively. Approximately 12.86 and 25.42% of the basin area were classified as high-risk and very high-risk, respectively. These high-risk zones were primarily located in the northern, southern, and central parts of the basin, warranting prioritized management and protection efforts. The use of the rock curve method and sub-curve level (0.89) demonstrated the excellent accuracy of the ARAS method in identifying and zoning landslide-prone areas within the Qaranqoochay Basin.

Karst landscapes are of great importance due to their role in providing vital water resources. However, these areas face a high risk of resource pollution, which is a significant concern. This study aimed to identify pollution-prone zones within the Tekab Catchment. The research utilized topographic maps (1:50,000 scale), a 1:100,000 geological map, and a 12.5-m digital elevation model derived from Landsat satellite imagery. Key analytical tools included ArcGIS and ENVI software. The study was conducted in two stages. First, the (Concentration, Overlapping, and Protection (COP) method was employed to delineate areas vulnerable to pollution. Second, the trend of residential expansion towards these vulnerable zones was assessed. The COP model results indicated that approximately 33% of the catchment area, primarily the northwestern and southern regions, exhibited high to very high pollution vulnerability. This was attributed to the underlying lithology, land cover type, hydroclimatic conditions, and geomorphological characteristics. Furthermore, evaluation of land use changes revealed that the built-up area had increased from 8 km2 in 1990 to 19 km2in 2019. Consequently, the southern and northwestern parts of the Tekab Catchment were facing heightened vulnerability due to both their inherent pollution potential and the ongoing expansion of human settlements. These findings underscored the critical need for targeted management strategies to protect the valuable water resources within the Tekab Catchment, particularly in the identified high-risk zones, and ensure the long-term sustainability of this important karst landscape.

Dust is a significant global challenge. This study aimed to monitor the temporal and spatial changes of suspended atmospheric dust in the western half of Iran, specifically in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and Lorestan. We utilized MODIS sensor products from 2012 to 2021 and Sentinel-5 imagery from 2018 to 2021 within the Google Earth Engine framework. These sensor products are invaluable for managing and addressing dust-related issues. Using Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Absorbing Aerosol Index (AAI) data, we tracked the trends in aerosol concentration over time and across the selected regions. Additionally, we calculated the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Bare Soil Index (BSI) from MOD13Q1 images for the same period to assess their average changes. The analysis revealed a downward trend in AOD during January and an upward trend in July. The AAI indicated that January 2021 recorded the lowest aerosol levels, while July and September 2021 experienced the highest concentrations. Classifying aerosol concentrations into three categories highlighted that regions with high aerosol levels, as indicated by MODIS data, were consistently found in Khuzestan and Ilam provinces, while Sentinel data showed sporadic occurrences. Furthermore, the correlation between dust concentration from MODIS imagery and EVI and BSI indices revealed that the highest aerosol concentrations were located in areas with little vegetation and bare soils.

Tourism is a leading development strategy in various societies, influencing economic, social, and environmental growth through targeted planning that recognizes both potentials and challenges. Lenjan County, despite facing certain limitations in tourism development, boasts diverse and significant resources related to nature and historical culture. This research aimed to identify these strengths and obstacles, proposing solutions to enhance capacities and mitigate tourism bottlenecks in Lenjan County. This study was applied in purpose and descriptive in nature and methodology. The research population consisted of tourism experts and visitors to the region with a statistical sample of 15 experts and 45 tourists. The first group analyzed tourism capabilities and limitations using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model, while insights from the second group were utilized within a SWOT framework to identify suitable solutions for tourism development based on the AHP findings. The results from the hierarchical analysis revealed that ecotourism attractions with a weight of 0.492, historical villages, and the potential for ecotourism activities (0.448), along with tangible and intangible historical-cultural heritage recognized nationally (0.330), represented the most significant tourism capabilities. Conversely, the lack of amenities and accommodation services at some historical-cultural sites (0.544) and damage to the local ecosystem due to river depletion and industrial pollution (0.427) were identified as the most critical bottlenecks. Additionally, the SWOT analysis identified 10 strengths and opportunities, yielding a final score of 3.53, while 8 weaknesses and threats scored 3.20, highlighting practical limitations on tourism development from the tourists’ perspectives. The recommended strategy for tourism development was an "active strategy".

The consecutive droughts experienced in Iran over recent years have highlighted the need to analyze atmospheric structures and their effects on precipitation patterns and drought conditions. This study investigated the location and spatial variations of key atmospheric circulation components, particularly synoptic systems, such as ridges and troughs, in relation to the extent of monthly droughts across Iran. Using ERA5 data, which included 500 hPa geopotential heights and precipitation data with a spatial resolution of 0.25°, the analysis covered the period from 1979 to 2021. Monthly drought extent percentages (September to May) were calculated using the Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) and categorized into 5 levels. The axes, as well as the southern and northern limits of ridges and troughs, were extracted and mapped from western Iran to the eastern Atlantic. The results indicated that during periods of widespread drought, the trough axis shifted from 30°E in September and May to 10°E in other months, while the ridge axis remained centered over central to western Iran throughout the year. Conversely, in months without drought, the trough axis was located between 30° and 40°E and the ridge axis spanned from 0° to 20°E. Notably, during widespread droughts, the southern limit of troughs was observed over North Africa, while the northern limit of ridges extended from Russia to Central Asia. The displacement of ridge axes between drought and non-drought months (approximately 50°) was significantly greater than the shifts observed in the trough axes. This displacement, particularly of the southern trough limit and the northern ridge limit, accounted for the decreased precipitation and increased drought conditions observed in December, January, and March. The eastward and westward shifts of ridges and troughs might indicate a change in Iran’s precipitation regime influenced by variations in regional atmospheric circulation within the broader context of planetary circulation.