فصلنامه محیط شناسی
سال سی و نهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 65، بهار 1392)

Today many countries have water shortage problems, so most of them compel to resort to desalination processes. This paper describes the effect of indirect contact freezing by external cooling for desalination of seawater and brackish water. Although various types of processes are introduced for desalination and such processes as reverse osmosis (RO) and multi-effect distillation (MED) are used commercially, there are also less common processes, like freezing and solar evaporation which in special regions and time may have good applications. In this study 5 synthetic sample of brackish and saline water was made in laboratory and process including freezing, crystallization, and separation, surface washing and melting accomplished on samples. With first freezing of sample at -20 oC, about 58% reduction of Total Dissolved Solid was happened to samples. At firs by one freezing process potable water was not produced but by two successive freezing processes on potable water was produced from first, second, third and fourth sample. Of course it doesnt happen to fifth sample. Accordingly, the TDS of the first water sample with initial dissolved solids concentration of 3066 mg/L had reduced 38% after the first process of freezing and to 84% after the second process of freezing. For second sample with 4775 mg/L TDS, by first and second freezing TDS reduction was 47% and 89% respectively. Third sample with 11900mg/L TDS, by first and second freezing had 65% and 90% TDS reduction and fourth sample with 19000mg/L TDS, by first and second freezing had 69% and 91% TDS reduction.

Red mud (RM), a waste tailing from alumina production, (as an important environmental problem), can be used as a strong absorbent pollutant. In this study, the modified red mud (MRM) and pillared clay (PILC) were used for the removal of arsenate from water. The modified red mud (MRM) and PILC complex were characterized using XRD, SEM and XRF microanalysis. The adsorption of arsenate on modified red mud (MRM) and PILC complex was studied as a function of pH, time, and temperature by AAS method. The maximum adsorption efficiency reached 98.86% when the pH was 3.5 at 40°C. The uptake of arsenate ions as a function of time and the results clearly indicated that the adsorption of arsenate ions reached equilibrium within 60 min. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms equation were used to fit the adsorption isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm was the best-fit adsorption isotherm model for the experimental data. It is evident from this study that red mud and pillared clay complex has been found to be efficient for the removal of various aquatic pollutants, especially arsenic and its compounds.

Heavy metals due to their non biodegradability properties and can accumulate in living tissues, thus becoming concentrated throughout the food chain and can be readily absorbed into the human body. Among them Manganese was examined in this study as a pollutant. The aim of this study is the manganese removal from aqueous solution using a windy Sand fixed bed column of Sistan plain. Flow rate, initial concentrations of manganese and bed height variables effects on the Breakthrough curves were examined. Windy sand was collected from Sistan plain and the particle size range 125-150 microns was selected. Manganese Titrisol was used for preparing stock solution (manufactured by Merk, Germany). Manganese removal in a continuous condition, a column of glass with a height of 50 cm and 3 cm in diameter as a Gravity-flow reactor and fixed bed was used. The column was packed with layers of glass wool to prevent the floating of adsorbent out from the column and installed outlet faucet at the end of column that use for sampling. In order to manganese ion transmission from inlet to column were used from plastic tube. Results showed that the maximum absorption of manganese by sand at pH 4 is equal to 71.5%. Both Freundlich and Langmuir model well described the results. The Freundlich model has had correlation coefficient equal to 0. 9862, shows a better description the data. Also, results showed that the manganese in the fixed bed adsorption using sand were dependent strongly to flow, initial concentration and bed height. Test results showed that Breakthrough time increases with flow and concentration addition. The absorption capacity of the column increases with height. Evaluation of column bed parameters of the model BDST showed good correspondence with experimental data.

Areas surrounding mines are severely vulnerable to pollution due to mine explorations, excavations and transportations. Nowadays spectrophotometers and spectral reflectance are applied for estimating the concentration of pollutants due to high costs of sampling and laboratory measurements. This research was carried out to determine spatial distribution of lead concentration in soil particle size classes using IRS LISS III reflectance in southern Isfahan city. To reach this goal, 100 composite surface soil samples were randomly collected from the area. The samples were air dried and soil particle size classes 250-500, 125-250, 75-125, 50-75 and <50 μm were determined using appropriate sieves after dispersion the bulk soil samples using ultrasonic apparatus. Total Pb concentration were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer after wet digestion of samples with nitric acid. Results showed that Pb concentration increases by decreasing soil particle size. Significant negative correlation coefficients were found between Pb concentration in soil particle size classes and soil spectral reflectances in visible and near infrared bands of IRS LISS-III satellite. Stepwise multiple regression models were used for estimating Pb concentration in soil particle classes through satellite data and spatial distribution of Pb was mapped using stepwise multiple regression equations. Results showed possible estimation of Pb concentration to certain ranges of concentrations through multiple regression models and satellite data. The results also indicated an increase in Pb concentration in all soil particle size classes by approaching the mines.

Nowadays, by increasing the emphasis on the environmental protection by organizational stakeholders, including government, customers, employees, competitors and communities, Environmental Management is becoming more important for corporations. Integrating environmental management techniques along the supply Chain is an appropriate method for enhancing the environmental performance of an industry. This challenge led to create a new concept of green supply chain management in the field of business that combine the environmental concepts and supply chain. Purpose of this study is offering a frame work to Measure and compare the degree a manufacturing industry is green and finally presenting solutions for improvement. The frame work attempt to assess the green supply chain using multi-criteria decision making approaches in fuzzy environment. To do this we used consistency testing methods. This make paired comparisions more reliable. Ghazanfari and Mikhailov method were selected for this. In order to examine the practical application of this framework, the major three industry in Yazd province was used include textile, steel and tiles. The results indicate that in terms of green the tile industry is the better rating and the textile and steel industry ranked second and third. Finally, in order to assist better environmental management, the appropriate strategies are presented for managers in these industries.

Growth of the petrochemical industry and its products has been followed growth in other sectors of production, use and trade of chemicals at national and regional levels. It is one of the basic industries which are feeder to other industry sectors as the engine of the economy and play a major role in developing countries. With no doubt mismanagement and improper use of chemicals lead to harmful and often irreparable injury on human health and the environment at different stages of the life cycle of materials, including production, distribution, consumption, and elimination result. So the range of complications chemical production plant and production workers beyond the scope of distributors, retailers, consumers and suppliers also includes elimination. In this study, the guidelines for the management of chemicals in Arak Petrochemical Complex are the aims. In this regard, after the identification of chemical materials the physical, chemical and other characterizations were studied. Then, by using these properties, 11 criteria in three groups: physical, biological, and reaction was extracted. They are used to group different classes of chemicals. Due to the different importance of the criteria by using Expert choice software they were weighted and ranked by TOPSIS method. According to the ranks, the materials are categorized in four groups due to the management costs and hazardous level. Finally, for each category management guidelines in three stages of chemicals, transport and storage are conducted as a Decision Support System. Based on the results, this study declines the management costs and risk of hazardous materials in the Arak Petrochemical Complex.

The study of NGOs network function as facilitator in Enviropreneurship development in Iranian environmental NGOs was the main aim of this research that conducted as a casual model method. The statistical sample was 51 environmental NGOs in Iran that selected randomly. Questionnaire research instrument was to measure the studied structures. Content validity by panel study confirmed. To determine reliability alpha coefficient was calculated. 0.94 And 0.92 value for Enviropreneurship and NGOs network functions scale showed that research instrument has acceptable capability to collect data and satisfy accepted condition. Dominant statistical method was SEM and for data analysis PLS-Graph was employed. According to path analysis results, among NGOs network functions aspect, communication and social capital, mission and aim, participation and sustainable planning and reviewing, have significant role in formation of Enviropreneurship function of environmental NGOs. The result showed fostering of network factors has a central role in development of Enviropreneurship functions among environmental NGOs. End of article some of implications were illustrated for improving Enviropreneurship functions by NGOs network facilitations role.

Environmental degradation all over the world is one of the three major concerns of the human being. Depletion of fresh water sources on earth, ozone layer depletion, soil degradation, intensive farming, climate change and temperature increase, biodiversity loss, population increase, poverty, pollution, extinction of rare species, biological extinction and endangered species are the main environmental issues of our planet. A man-made disaster or technological hazard that has come to fruition, resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment. It is a phenomenon that disasters can cause damage to life, property and destroy the economic, social and cultural life of people. Some of the major world environmental disasters are mentioned in this paper. According to Islam, the absolute owner of the nature and creatures are God, and man is the vicegerent of God on the earth. Acting as a good trustee requires man to leave a clean and healthy environment for future generations. According to Quranic versus and narrations, man is responsible for everything, and this rule denotes that man has responsibility for developing and improving the earth and observing the rights of other creatures.

Today cities are the main habitat of human (homo sapiens) and they have profound effects on the biosphere. This changes have had undesirable consequences for human being such as degradation of environmental quality which ultimately would reduce the "quality of life". Warming the urban environment is one of these unconscious effects of urban development that is called "urban heat island» (UHI). Surface urban heat island causes warmer condition that can be is identified and analyzed using thermal Infrared Remote Sensing. Environmental planning could be partitioned in two steps: 1. analysis and explanation and 2. synthesis and prescription. In the first step, the given subjects are analyzed according to identified processes and problems. In the second step, according to the identified problems, solutions represent to improve the quality of the environment. i. e. “Environmental Assessment is Fundamental of sustainable environmental planning ". The main emphasis of this research has been on the assessment of the surface temperature of the urban environment. It should be noted that air temperature is different from surface temperature and each of which has different mechanisms. In this study, spatial distribution and changes in land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation index (NDVI) has been quantified in the urban region of Tehran using Landsat 7 ETM + image. Contrary to the expectations built-up areas has not highest temperature of surface, but open spaces. Gradient analysis of LST shows a reduction trend in north-east toward south-west of urban region of Tehran.

In spite of continuous changes in different era, historic and old cities with their unique attraction can be considered as a best place for tourism activities. Sanandaj as a capital of Kurdistan, with its’ compressed and labyrinth old texture which during the time according the physical, social and natural features had been made, because fascinating historic architecture, unique cultural and artistic features, among Iranian’s cities can become one of the best destination for tourists. Path-finding and designing of walking rout, with aim of visit management, meeting needs of tourism and introducing this texture, are most important steps to tourism development in this textures. Designing of tourist walk rout to conservation of historic part, tourism development, decreasing negative impacts of tourism and social safety, is our attempt in this study. The method of research is descriptive – analytical and in view of type, can be categorized in applied studies. Needed data collected thorough library search and survey. In addition, according our study all route of historic texture doesn’t have needed criteria for tourist walking, so, to achieving mentioned aims, with use of GIS, effective routing factors turned to quantitative data, then, according them, spatial analysis, algorithm as an overlay, Boolean model and network analysis, best route for tourist walk identified.

This study was aimed to identify and mange the most stressful risks threatening Shadegan International Wetland. Shadegan International Wetland which is located in the southwest of Iran is in the Montero list and now threatened by several risks. In this study, the most important threatening risks of the wetland were identified. In the characteristics step, the risks were analyzed based on the severity, probability and consequences. These indicators were used to determine scope and extent of the risks. Based on the hydrogeomorphic approach, wetland endpoints were defined to determine each risk. The risk index was calculated based on the risk general method and William Fine risk index method. In order to mange and propose the control measures, with gathering expert opinions, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize these risks. According to the results of this study, land use change in natural habitats, change in hydrological patterns of the rivers supplying water to the wetlands (such as dam construction), water pollution caused by discharges of several sewages into the wetland, indiscriminate exploitation of the biological products of the wetland, and also the occurrence of drought phenomenon are the most important threatening risks of the wetland respectively.

Land use changes are one of the important consequences of urban spatial extent. Regarding the role of Green space as one of important land use classes in urban ecosystems, the investigations of its changes seem to be crucial. In this study, to estimate the changes of green Space, the NDVI Index was applied to TM and IRS images of 1990 and 2006 and green space maps of District 1 of Tehran municipality by underlining the different greenness levels were generated. The comparison between the areas of greenness classes of green space maps revealed that non-vegetated increased by 1538.28 and poor, moderate and good greenness level green space decreased by 22.59, 15.3 and 0.36 ha respectively. Further more; Post-classification change detection technique was applied to investigate the procedure of changes of the study area's green space based on the conversion of classes. It showed that although the green space area has been increased by 1576.53 ha due to the conversion of non-vegetated to vegetated area, according to the conversion of vegetated area to non-vegetated one by 38.25 ha, it has been decreased by 1538.28, finally. The green space changes were also projected for the next nineteen years when IRAN envisages achieving Vision 1404 using Markov chain analysis. Statistic result shows that maximum probability of green space destruction belongs to poor greenness level green space area by 0.7743. Moreover, the map of applying CA-Markov represents probable spatial distribution of case study's green space in 1404 which is really helpful to urban planning in case of Green space's conservation and developments.

Resilience thinking in urban environment has been recently proposed as an effective measure to realize the objectives of sustainable development, minimize uncertainties and non linear interactions. This concept, in the context of Modern urban ecology makes it possible to integrate natural and human factors and in urban systems and understanding the interactions between them, expanding sustainability approaches according to the known interactions. Using the conceptual model of new urban ecology that developed by Alberti and his colleagues in 2003, we can define and find the interactions between biophysical and human driving forces, structures, functions and impacts in urban environments, then based on this cognition, we can develop the suitable strategies (including Defensive, Offensive, Protective and opportunistic) and find the location of the measures in promoting urban resilience. In this research, Tehran has been selected as case study. With this respect, after defining key factors of urban environmental resilience maps of the factors which influence and are influenced by the satiability of urban environment were overlaid and 9 zones were identified. Based on the conceptual model of urban ecology, in order to understand the relationship between structure, function, impacts and responses, zone 2, which consisted of 1 and 3 of Tehran municipal districts, was selected as a sample. Considering the understanding from this zone in the model, different types of strategic orientations in spatial form were developed. Application of this approach in studies related to urban resilience can help planners to make proper decisions to maintain and improve existing and potential opportunities and ecosystem services in cities.

Tourism industry is growing fast as an ecological, economical and social opurtionaty because of global approaches to nature. Tourism in the way of growth depends on nature and its different aspects like environmental attractions, biodiversity, wild life, pristine environments and good climatic conditions. As Iran is full of these nature based attractions so a proper situation for developing nature based tourism rather than other forms of tourism is achievable. For planning, development and designing of landscape it’s important to detect and protect good views and locate functions in the best place. Gheshlagh River valley locates east of sanandaj city by the length of 90km and has good capacities for tourism development.This research suppose to assess visual and natural quality aspects of this river valley for environmental planning and designing. Hence, environmental units considered and classified from highest to lowest quality and diversity as superb, moderate and low levels then by a field survey of superb areas, all of good view locations and azimuth points of these areas selected. Finally 18 points determined. All of these points help us to design pathes,mountain recreational stations,walking pathes and other features of ecologes in relation to the number and carrying capacity of tourist.

Due to structural characteristics and spiritual concepts which are latent inside Iranian gardens, it has always drawn attention of domestic and foreign researchers and one of the objectives of these researchers was an attempt to achieve historical garden model in Iran which have been modified or subjected to decline. The studies, which have been carried out concerning to Iranian historical gardens until now, lacked the needed solidarity to make effort for historical reconstruction of the gardens. Thus, necessity of enjoying a comprehensive model for collection and recording of historical, natural and cultural information about each historical garden felt further for documentation and reconstruction of the given garden.At the present study, environmental approach is purposed within cataloging method by which it explores the garden from historical, cultural and contextual attributes, following to introduce a comprehensive model to identify historical gardens and their documentation. In Environmental approach, historical gardens are analyzed and surveyed based on extraction of natural and historical layers of the garden within time period. Such information strata are derived from gathering and study of the existing proof and evident about history of garden, historical documents, logbooks, old images and objective perspectives. “Cataloging Method” is one of techniques which provide the possibility for gathering the existing information and recording garden’s status quo integrally. In this study, three historical gardens, namely SEPAHDAR in Ramhormoz, MOSHIROLMAMALEK in Yazd and MASOUDIEH in Tehran, have been selected which they were reconstructed and are assessed by means of cataloging technique. Accordingly, it is shown that whether its historical documentations and the purposed principles in Florence Charter have been considered in reconstruction of each garden and or if garden has been repaired only based on what has been observed in its present situation.

Value of tourism and recreation are direct values of the forest ecosystem and parks, which include the use of parks and forest for recreation, leisure, hiking, and aesthetic. In this study, Hasht Behesht Park recreational value and willingness to pay (WTP) is defined and measured by using contingent valuation method (CV) and Double-bounded dichotomous choice (DDC). For measuring the willingness to pay, logit model is used and based on maximum likelihood; the parameters of the model are estimated. 230 questionnaires were collected during three month. Proposals in 2000, 3000 and 4000 Rials that respectively suggested low, middle and high pay for visitors were considered. First the middle payment was proposed and if the answer was negative, suggested low price, and in the case of positive answer, suggested the higher price. Results show that the variables of individual income, household income, education, quality of parks, value of environment has had a positive effect on willingness to pay. The age and distance of house from the park, are negative relationship with interest to pay. Average willingness to pay for recreational value of the park was 2618 Rials for each visit and the average annual household willingness to pay for visit the park 106814/4 Rials is obtained.