Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Environmental Sciences

Evaluation of Khuzestan's erg activity status and risks arising From it using Google Earth Engine system

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Tehran Universiti

2 Payam Noor University, Sanandaj branch

3 University of Kordestan

10.22034/rsgi.2025.61672.1075

Abstract

Sand dunes are one of the complications of hot and dry regions, which are associated with many risks, including the creation of dust centers and the destruction of agricultural lands and human constructions. Among the sand dunes that have played an important role in the human activities nearby is the sand dunes of Khuzestan in the southwest of the country. Considering the importance of the subject, in this research, the condition of sand in Khuzestan and the risks caused by it have been investigated. In this research, Google Earth images, Landsat 9 satellite images, MODIS satellite images, as well as digital layers of information are used as the most important research data. The most important research tools include Google Earth, Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS. In this research, firstly, the range of Khuzestan's reservoirs has been drawn and then its changes have been analyzed. In the following, using the AOD index and MODIS images, the dust concentration map of the region has been prepared and its relationship with the region's sensors and human activity has been evaluated and analyzed. The results of this research have shown that the sand of Khuzestan has an area of 2602 square kilometers, and under the influence of the speed and direction of the winds in the region, about 43% of it has an active state, and this problem has caused sand piles in some areas. Move towards agricultural lands.

Highlights

نتایج این تحقیق نشان داده است که بخش زیادی از نیمه شمالی استان خوزستان و مناطق جنوبی استان ایلام را ریگزارها دربرگرفته است. ریگزارهای این منطقه دارای مورفولوژی پیچده­ای هستند و با توجه به دخالت­های انسانی صورت گرفته در منطقه، وضعیت فعالیت و تغییرات آن­ها یکسان نیست. درواقع با توجه به اینکه در بعضی از مناطق، بیش از 40 درصد از بادها دارای سرعت بیش از 2/6 متر بر ثانیه هستند و همچنین بعضی از مناطق دارای پوشش­گیاهی کم تراکم هستند، بنابراین زمینه برای جابجایی تپه­های ماسه­ای و ایجاد کانون­های گردوغبار فراهم است. در این پژوهش با توجه به تغییرات تپه­های ماسه ­است، ریگ خوزستان به سه کلاس فعال، نیمه فعال و غیرفعال تقسیم شده است. بر اساس نتایج حاصله، 1117 کیلومترمربع (9/42 درصد) از ریگزارها را مناطق فعال، 1359 کیلومترمربع (2/52) را مناطق نیمه فعال و 126 کیلومترمربع (8/4) را مناطق غیرفعال دربرگرفته است. با توجه اینکه جهت غالب بادهای منطقه به سمت غرب است، بنابراین غالباً پیشروی توده­های ماسه به سمت مناطق غربی منطقه است. همچنین با توجه به اینکه بخشی زیادی از ریگ خوزستان دارای وضعیت فعال و نیمه فعالی است، این ریگزار پتانسیل زیادی برای ایجاد مخاطرات دارد. بر اساس نتایج حاصله از شاخص AOD، بالاترین غلظت گردوغبار منطقه در طی سال­های 2018 تا 2023 مربوط به محدوده ریگزارهای تثبیت نشده و فعال و همچنین در مناطق شرقی ریگزارها، بوده است. بر این اساس می­توان گفت که دلیل غلظت گردوغبار منطقه، وجود ریگزارها و خصوصاً ریگزارها فعال و تثبیت نشده بوده است. همچنین با توجه به اینکه درصد بادهای با سرعت بیش از 2/6 متر بر ثانیه در فصل بهار بیش از سایر فصول بود، بنابراین می­توان گفت که همانند ریگزارهای لوت (مقصودی و همکاران، 1400) و شهرستان زابل (فتح­اله­زاده و همکاران، 1402)، بین تغییرات غلظت گردوغبار و درصد بادهای با سرعت بیش از 2/6 متر برثانیه رابطه مستقیمی وجود دارد. اما علاوه بر ایجاد گردوغبار، فعال بودن ریگ خوزستان در بسیاری از مناطق از جمله مناطق مجاور اراضی کشاورزی، سبب پیشروی توده­های ماسه­ای به سمت این اراضی و تخریب آن­ها شده است.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Objective: Sand dunes are one of the complications of hot and dry regions, which are associated with many risks, including the creation of dust centers and the destruction of agricultural lands and human constructions. Among the sand dunes that have played an important role in the human activities nearby is the sand dunes of Khuzestan in the southwest of the country. Considering the importance of the subject, in this research, the condition of sand in Khuzestan and the risks caused by it have been investigated.

Methods: In this research, Google Earth images, Landsat 9 satellite images, MODIS satellite images, as well as digital layers of information are used as the most important research data. The most important research tools include Google Earth, Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS. In this research, firstly, the range of Khuzestan's reservoirs has been drawn and then its changes have been analyzed. In the following, using the AOD index and MODIS images, the dust concentration map of the region has been prepared and its relationship with the region's sensors and human activity has been evaluated and analyzed

Results: The results of this research have shown that the Khuzestan regs has an area of ​​2602 km2, and under the influence of the speed and direction of the region's winds, about 43, 52, and 5 percent respectively of it is active, semi-active, and inactive. This has caused sand masses to advance more than a few meters towards agricultural lands in some areas each year. The results of the AOD index also showed that the highest dust concentration in the region during the years 2018 to 2023, with a coefficient of more than 0.7, was related to the area of ​​unstabilized and active sand dunes, as well as in the eastern areas of the sand dunes.

Conclusions: According to the results, there is a direct relationship between dust concentration and sand dune activity in the region

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Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Environmental Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 13
February 2025
Pages 22-1
  • Receive Date: 29 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 15 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 29 January 2025