https://jdee.kashanu.ac.ir/ Desert Ecosystem Engineering Journal en daily 1 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0330 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0330 https://jdee.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114010.html As complex climatic events, dust storms could be managed by considering their nature and attributes. Therefore, this study sought to investigate interactions between the aerosol optical depth index and climatic land surface characteristics using data mining and zoning techniques in dust-prone regions of the Yazd province, Iran. To this end, the required data was collected from several climatic products of the University of Idaho and Modis Sensor for the 2000–2017 period using Google Earth Engine.Moreover, the image of the maximum dust was processed using AOD Modis and ENVI 5.1 software. Then, the underlying correlation between the variables was identified through various data mining techniques. In addition, the ROC curve was used for cross-validation, and different metrics were applied to assess the model, including Square Root of Error, Absolute Normalized Error, Classification Error, Absolute Error, and Crucial Class Fraction Ratio. Finally, the best data mining approach was used to determine the location and zoning of dust-prone regions.The findings of the study indicated that the decision tree outperformed the Bayesian theory with 89.53% accuracy and that it performed better than the nearest neighbor with an accuracy of 61.3% and 81.31%, respectively. As for the validation of the models, the decision tree methods, nearest neighbor search, and Bayesian network theory showed 74.21%, 64.39%, and 55.42% values, respectively.Moreover, in regions with crucial harvest and dust ranges, wind speed and soil surface moisture were found to have the most significant role. On the other hand, the zoning of dust-prone regions revealed that 888,067067 Km2 of areas were covered with the highest concentrations of dust, most of which were located in the central and eastern parts of Yazd province, with the AOD values being 0.465, 0.309, 0.162, and 0.065 for the ranges of 0-0.036, 0.036-0.072, 0.072-0.107, and 0.107-0.3, respectively. https://jdee.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114094.html The Resistance to environmental salinity in rangeland plant species has different mechanisms, and one of the most effective factors in this field is different phenological stages. In The current study salinity tolerance of one rangeland's species (Agropyron desertorum) at different phenological stages was examined. The treatments included five saline irrigation levels: 0.50 (Well water as control), 2, 4, 8 and 10 dS m-1 and three phenological stages at which salinity was applied: Germination, (2-leaf), flowering and before seeding. Growth parameters, ions accumulation and oxidative effects in this rangeland's spices were evaluated. According to the results, the effect of salinity varied from phenological stages and a significant reduction in plant shoot and root dry weights, root length, height, and potassium (shoot and root) concentration was observed under salinity stress. Also, tissue sodium concentration and antioxidant enzymes activities were enhanced due to salt stress.The negative effects on growth parameters and biochemical attributes were quite evident in higher levels of salinity. The salt stress at the early phenological stage had a more severe effect on plant growth than that applied at the later phenological stages. Based on Van-Genuchtan and Hoffman equation, the salt tolerance threshold analysis worked out as 50% reduction of Agropyron desertorum that were 6.50, 7.98 and 10.00 dS m-1 at germination, (2-leaf), flowering and before seeding, respectively. However, the plants were able to recover in terms of accumulation of ion and antioxidant enzymes as well as those without stress when salt stress was introduced at the seed germination stage. Overall, Agropyron desertorum has been shown to have a sensitivity at early phenology and relatively tolerance in subsequent phases of development. https://jdee.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114120.html The current study primarily sought to select the best index for elaborating on dust activities, analyze the temporal and spatial changes of the index’s trend, and examine the relationship of the index with environmental factors in Iranian dry regions. To this end, the study examined the data collected on dust concentration, dust storm index, the number of dusty days (NDD), the pollution caused by dust storms, and the frequency of all dust events over a period of 18 years (2001-2018) using the MODIS-aerosols optical depth (AOD) product. Moreover, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the indices and AOD data sets. On the other hand, the trend of the best index annual changes in twenty-eight Iranian urban areas was analyzed using the Mann-Kendall method. Also, the most important environmental factors controlling dust activities in high-risk areas were identified using the random forest model. The results of the study indicated a strong correlation between NDD and AOD in Iranian dry regions (r= 0.7; p-value= 0.001). It was also found that the trend of NDD’s annual changes significantly increased in Torbat Heydarieh, Nehbandan, and Anar (Z>+1.96). However, the trend significantly decreased in Chabahar and Iranshahr (Z>│-1.96│. Generally, the results indicated an insignificant decreasing trend of annual NDD changes across the entire Iranian arid regions from 2001 to 2018 (Z= -0.45). on the other hand, the random forest model suggested that air pressure and wind speed exerted the greatest influence on dust activities that occurred in Iran’s high-risk area throughout the study period. Therefore, it could be argued that the findings of this study can help better monitor dust events and reduce their environmental risks in Iranian dry areas. :  https://jdee.kashanu.ac.ir/article_114325.html As the major habitats of humans on Earth, cities are now facing a broad range of environmental problems. Biophilic cities are an approach that emphasizes the close and daily relationship between citizens and nature. As cities in arid and semi-arid areas face more env As the primary habitats for humans on Earth, cities are currently experiencing a wide range of environmental issues, including biophilic sickness. Cities in arid and semi-arid regions face more environmental problems compared to other areas, making it challenging yet crucial to manage these issues effectively. To develop strategies for achieving this objective, a comprehensive understanding of the current conditions is essential. Therefore, this study examined the current status of biophilic city indicators in Yazd as a case study. With a rich history of living in harmony with the nature of arid regions, Yazd is a valuable human heritage. However, in recent decades, significant changes in population and land use patterns have occurred. The indicators used to assess biophilic conditions in Yazd included citizens'' biophilic knowledge, attitudes, and activities, urban infrastructure, water resources, climate, public health, biophilic institutions, and governance. These selected indicators were quantified using statistical, analytical, and descriptive data. Statistical data were obtained from government reports and offices, while analytical data were derived from satellite images. Descriptive data were collected through a questionnaire. To determine the sample size, Cochran’s formula was utilized at a 95% confidence level, resulting in a sample size of 384 individuals based on the Yazd population (529,673 people based on the 2016 census). Finally, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to quantify the biophilic status of Yazd based on the weighting and scoring of indicators. The findings indicate that Yazd falls short of being biophilic due to inadequate planning for arid climatic conditions, lack of capacity building in community and education-related management institutions, absence of a citizen-centered culture, and insufficient urban infrastructure. Consequently, substantial modifications in planning and implementation, management practices, educational initiatives, and cultural norms are necessary in Yazd to safeguard the urban environment and enhance biophilic city indicators. ironmental limitations compared to other regions, it is difficult but at the same time important to put this approach into practice. To make plans for achieving this goal, we must obtain sufficient knowledge of the existing situation first. Therefore, the present research studied the existing status of biophilic city indicators in Yazd as a case study. As a human heritage, Yazd enjoys a very remarkable past about harmony with the nature of arid regions, but in recent decades there has been considerable change in population and the types of land use in it. The indicators that were used in the evaluation of biophilic conditions in Yazd included biophilic knowledge, attitude, and activities of the citizens, the urban infrastructures, water, climate, health ,and biophilic institutions ,and governance. The results show that Yazd is not biophilic due to the lack of planning suitable for climatic conditions in arid regions, capacity building in community-and education-related management institutions, and building a culture among the citizens ,and urban infrastructure. Therefore, this city needs to make major changes in its planning and executive ,and management frameworks and also in education and culture building to protect the urban environment and improve the quality of biophilic city indicators.