ehsan tamassoki

In recent years, the crisis of dust storm has turned into a serious crisis in the Middle East region and has caused widespread feedback. Meantime, Iran has been widely affected by the effects of this phenomenon due to its geographical location. In this research, this phenomenon has been investigated in Sarpol Zahab city in two parts; First, identifying the process and its climatic analysis, and second examining the environmental, social, economic, political and defense-security consequences. The first part of this research was done by analyzing climatic data, and in the second part, after library research and interviews with experts, 5 indicators and 32 items related to the consequences of fine dust were calculated. Then, the calculated indicators and items were given to 18 experts. After confirming the indicators and items, a questionnaire was given to 350 citizens and the results were analyzed using the PLS structural equation model. The tracking of the Farin storm in April 2008 shows that it is a dust mass originating from the western regions of Iraq and eastern Syria, which enters the western regions of Iran with a relative northwest-southeast direction. Also, the results of the factor load of the items showed that the most important consequences of fine dust are the effect on the increase of illegal traffic from the border, the decrease of the greenness of plants, the increase of plant and animal pests, and the increase of street and urban protests and riots.

Nowadays, the approach of integrated watershed management (IWM) has been widely accepted as a reference and reliable model by scientific experts, executive managers, policymakers, and planners in the country. From the perspective of many experts and professionals in natural resources and environment, the land area of Iran is surrounded by a range of natural, climatic, and social hazards related to watershed areas. In conditions where each of these hazards alone can lead to environmental, economic, and social crises, a critical analysis of IWM as the most accepted management unit in nature is essential. Despite the importance of this reference model for planning and organizing watershed areas, this approach is often subject to personal preferences due to the lack of a comprehensive and widely accepted definition at the macro level, which results in managers and planners not being responsive. Moreover, watershed management plans and comprehensive management of watershed areas in Iran face various challenges and have not been successful despite the allocation of considerable resources. Therefore, it is necessary to address the ambiguities and challenges of the integrated management approach in order to achieve a coherent and comprehensive management in watershed areas. In this regard, the present study focuses on a critical analysis of the hidden challenges in the approach of IWM and provides policy recommendations and practical suggestions for IWM in Iran.

In this study, two tasks were performed to examine and explain the comprehensiveness dimensions. In the first stage, resources related to studies on natural resources and watershed management in the country were reviewed. In this stage, the targeted resources were examined using the term "integrated" and the words, terms, and concepts associated with this term. The result of this review was the determination and identification of six keywords and concepts related to the term "integrated". In the next stage, these six factors and keywords were used as six diagnostic and identification codes for examining watershed management plans and IWM. The focus was on determining the presence or absence of these keywords and terms in the implemented watershed management plans. The objective was to determine whether these six key words and theoretical concepts identified in the first stage have been employed in the practical implementation of the IWM plans. This was accomplished through content analysis of implemented watershed management plans in various regions of the country. In each of the implemented plans, the type and extent of utilization, or, in other words, the level of attention given to the mentioned six factors, were examined and analyzed.

In this study, corresponding to the six dimensions of comprehensiveness in the concept of IWM in Iran, six policy recommendations and implementation proposals have been presented. These policy recommendations and implementation proposals encompass a combination of environmental, economic, social, and cultural factors, as gaps in these factors will hinder the integrated management of elements. This research suggests that the executive responsibility for integrated management should be entrusted to the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization of the country in coordination with other relevant organizations. This organization, if legal barriers are removed and policy-making streams are aligned, will be able to fulfill its main intrinsic duty, which is the management of the country's watersheds. Regarding the components of ecosystem stakeholders, this study emphasizes that the stakeholders should include all ecosystem stakeholders since any form of anthropocentrism jeopardizes the sustainability of ecosystems. In terms of the dimension of interconnectedness of natural boundaries, the results of this study emphasize the importance of interconnectedness in terms of perspectives, planning, and policy-making. In other words, political boundaries at the county, provincial, and international levels pose increasing challenges to IWM. Therefore, the basis for planning should be the natural boundaries of watersheds. Hence, bridging the gaps and achieving interconnectedness in terms of intra-county and intra-provincial boundaries can be achieved through organizational coherence and defining the responsibilities of organizations based on the natural boundaries of watersheds. As for international boundaries, it requires strengthening diplomacy and reaching regional agreements and treaties. Regarding the elements that should be considered in the comprehensive management approach by planners and executive managers, it can be stated that these elements should include all the components present in ecosystems, including water, soil, and vegetation cover.

The findings of this study indicate the possibility of employing integrated, cohesive, and coordinated management in the natural environments of Iran as a suitable, precise, scientific, and systematic guideline. The recommendations and proposals of this research can lead to interconnectedness, comprehensive perspectives, organizational coherence, coordination among decision-making bodies, enhancement of policy and legal effectiveness, community satisfaction, alignment of activities between planners and watershed residents, and ultimately, improvement in social responsibility and widespread participation of stakeholders in watershed management. Implementing the recommendations provided in this study in future plans and projects can contribute to improving the environmental conditions of watershed inhabitants and ensuring the sustainability of natural ecosystems by addressing the existing challenges.

In recent decades, the crisis of environmental degradation has become widespread and has caused concerns. Since this crisis is the consequence of an intellectual and moral crisis, it must be considered independently of the technical and engineering aspects. While analyzing different human-nature interactions and the views of current thinkers on nature, in this research, an attempt has been made to analyze the ethical roots of the environmental crisis by presenting a conceptual model. Environmental crises are exacerbated by attitudes that, while emphasizing humanism, see nature as an inanimate and unconscious object that has no benefit other than mere matter. The conceptual model enlightens that in the face of the negative impact that the weakness of the creation worldview, self-centeredness, and other species aversion have on the universe, the "cosmopolitan ecocentrism" attitude has been developed due to the positive effect of the universe on the environmental crises. As a result, environmental ethics is solely comprehensive ethics; That is, while considering other cultures, species, and habitats, it is cosmopolitan. In other words, environmental ethics is universal, so it must be a fundamental approach to ethics. Since ethics is a way of life, ecological ethics is the universal way of life, the most ethics. Therefore, if we want to know why we have inherited this great amount of environmental degradation, we must be aware of the details of anthropocentric ethics and compare it with environmental ethics. Environmental ethics, or more accurately, ecological ethics, is the most cosmopolitan way of life and universal ethics.

The land reform that followed the social, economic, and political changes in Iran is the most crucial mission of the administrative system before the Islamic Revolution and one of the most critical issues of environmental governance in Iran in modern times. The purpose of this study is to explain how the land reform program was on the agenda in the 1960s. Due to the nature and objectives of this study, the qualitative analysis method and case study method were used. First, the collected data from research sources were categorized within the framework of Kingdon's multiple stream theory. Analysis was performed based on the theoretical concepts of the theory. This article explains how the stream of issues, political, and policy-making process result in the land reform agenda. The results show that although theoretically separated, the three streams are not entirely independent of each other. This study argues that Kingdan's theory is effective in analyzing and explaining the process of the land reform law, despite its limitations. The window of opportunity has been opened following the co-existence of the current land problems and the owner-farmer relationship, domestic political forces and international pressures, and the policy-making process. Since then, the issue has been on the government's agenda, and political Entrepreneurs have taken the opportunity to approve their proposals and facilitate the change process.

According to their specific geographic and climatic conditions, the extent and intensity of dust storms in the west and southwest parts of Iran have made this phenomenon one of the principal environmental hazards in these regions. The extent of dust storms, their significant effects on health, economy, environment, and agriculture, and their increasing trend have drawn the attention of many researchers. The recent study is composed of data analysis of dust storms by Iran Meteorological Organization Earth Database, synoptic analysis of weather and climate patterns causing and transmitting dust using middle and upper atmosphere data in Sanandaj, Kermanshah, and Ilam stations and tracking wind packages carrying dust particles using HYSPLIT model with forward and backward methods.

To analyze atomosphoric patterns, the middle and upper atmosphere data such as the sea level pressure data, level of 500 hPa geo-potential height from NCEP/NCAR databasewere drawn using GRADS software. HYSPLIT model and MODIS images for dust storms.were used to recognize the origin of dust storms and wind flow routing in the stations.

Earth database investigations show that the year 2008 has one of the most extreme dust storms in terms of visibility reduction and durability of days with dust storm in the study period. From 2 to 5 April 2008 the most extreme dust storms with visibility of fewer than 500 meter occured in the stations. The results of wind flow routing by the HYSPLIT model showed that the origin of the dust storm mass was North West of Iraq and east of Syria, which had entered Iran with a north west-south east direction. The middle and upper atmospheric circulation base results show that west winds occurred with a low-pressure center in the East of Iran and high pressure in the North of Africa, causing the entrance of dust to this region. As one of the most intense dust storms of recent years, the mentioned dust storm can help by recognizing atmosphere patterns causing this phenomenon and routing winds transmitting aerosols.

According to the results of this study which has examined the relationship between large scale synoptic patterns and a variety of space-time dust storm activities in Iran using synoptic maps of sea level pressure circulation patterns, 500 hPa geo-potential height of dust storms in the studied stations, and wind flow routing model, it can be concluded that dynamic models can be presented by consensus of various specialists for this destructive environmental phenomenon-although using satellite imagery and dust storm capability and investigating them can be of great importance for future studies. In general, the results of this research show that wind flow routing model and atmosphere studies have the suitable capability for recognizing and monitoring dust storm paths.

Today, environmental policy-making is the main responsibility of governments in many countries. In Iran, environmental legislation began in the first years after the Constitutional Revolution. This exploratory study has been conducted with the aim of policy-making analysis and enumeration of the most important environmental issues in Iran. Laws in the field of environment were categorized into four historical periods and six statements based on information from interviews, publications, library documents, and organizations' websites. Then, according to the experts, the issues were verified and prioritized. The results show that "forest management and exploitation", "environmental protection and nationalization", "land reform", "construction jihad", "resource provision" and "risks" have been the most important environmental policy-making issues The highest agreement is reached on the third issue and the lowest agreement on the second issue. Prioritization of issues indicates the dominance of the capitalist view on environmental issues. The first step in resolving the issues is to eliminate contradictions and develop a comprehensive and connecting platform.

Dust storms, one type of dust event, are in most cases the result of turbulent winds, including convective haboobs, which raise large quantities of dust from desert surfaces and reduce visibility to less than 1 km. This dust reaches concentrations in excess of 6000 mg m3 in severe events. The major dust source regions are areas of arid and hyper-arid, with mean annual rainfalls of less than 100 mm. The temporal and spatial investigation of dust storms shows the interference of various factors in their occurrence and expansion. These factors is divided into two groups; environmental and human parameters. The climatic (such as low rainfalls, high evaporation, intense wind, drought and atmospheric general circulation) and geological (for example lithology such as Quarts, Clay, Silicate and feldspar) factors are natural parameters, and factors such as over grassing and crop production, wastage of vegetation, increasing growth of population, battle and political problems are human parameters. Much of the current interest in dust storms relates to their possible role in the systems and subsystems of Earth. Dust loadings may affect air temperatures through the absorption and scattering of solar radiation, may affect cloud formation, and convectional activity, influence sulphur and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and influence geo-chemistry cycle, soil evolution and desertification. Dust storms are one of the destructive climatic phenomena which are affected by various climatic elements such as pressure, precipitation, wind, temperature and evaporation. These phenomena impose much damages to human health, industrial and agricultural installation, population centers and communication ways. The recognition of source regions, creation and expansion style of dust storms and their relation with atmospheric circulation patterns are fundamental factors in reduction of their damages. In recent decades, trend of dust storms has increased in Iran, specially west and southwest areas. This factor is raised the necessity of dust study in these areas more than before. Frequency and intensity of dust storms in west and south west parts of Iran has made this phenomenon one of the most principal environmental hazards in these regions. According to the extent of dust storms and their vast effects on health, economy, environment and agriculture and their increasing trend has drew the attention of many researchers. The recent study is composed of data analysis of dust storm by Iran Meteorological Organization Earth Database, synoptic analysis of weather and climate patterns causing and transmitting dust using middle and upper atmosphere data in Shiraz, Fasa and Bushehr stations and tracking wind packages carrying dust particles using HYSPLIT model by forward and backward methods.

In the research, environmental and circulatory databases were used to be analyzed the synoptic systems of Comprehensive Dust Storms in the South and Center of Iran. At first, the number of dust days was determined using climatic data of more than 30 synoptic station in a 9-year period, from 2002 to 2009. Then, their circulation patterns were identified and plotted. Also, the circulation patterns of extreme dust days was identified and plotted in the study area. Though, meteorological data, the middle and upper atmosphere data such as the sea level pressure data, level of 500 hPa geo-potential height, wind direction, vertical velocity, surface temperature and the subtropical wind profiles were received from 100-1000 hPa height from NCEP/NCAR database and were drawn for 0-80 longitude and 10-70 latitude using GRADS software. Then, visibility, wind direction and velocity, relative humidity and precipitation were extracted for each day. WRPLOT VIEW VERSION 5.3 software was used for wind rose drawing by wind storms causing direction and speed. HYSPLIT model was used in order to recognize the origin of dust storms and wind flow routing in Shiraz, Fasa and Bushehr stations.

In recent decades, the global effectiveness of dust storms has become increasingly apparent, so that, major advances have occurred in sources, transport paths and their many impacts both on humans and the environment, their frequency at different time scales. Earth database investigations shows that the year 2008 has one of the most extreme dust storms in terms of visibility reduce and durability of dust storm days in the study period that 2008 June 10 is the most extreme dust storm day with visibility of less than 500 meter in the stations. The mentioned dust storm as one of the most intense dust storms of the recent years can help having a good recognition of atmosphere patterns causing this phenomenon and routing winds transmitting aerosols. The results of the middle and upper atmospheric circulation base shows that west winds occurred in 2008 June 10 with a low pressure center in the East of Iran and high pressure in the North of Africa (Figures 1 & 2). The condition is caused the entrance of dust to the study region. The isothermal map of sea surface represents the ascendancy of 50 degrees curve on the center of Iran and isothermal map of 42.5 degrees on the East Saudi Arabia. Besides, the curves of 40 degrees have dominated on Iraq and Syria which causes temperature increase and drought air in the region. Omega map of sea surface at 2008 June 10 indicates the -0.1 conture in Central regions of Iran which shows the downward air flow in the area. Also, the central core of the upward flow, with 0.2 contour are dominate in the North of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria, which illustrate an air mass with ascending movement in these areas. Patterns related to humidity represent relative humidity of 10% in Iran. Also, specific humidity is very low and is equal to 0.004 which represent minimum rates of humidity and very high drought causing or increasing dust storms in the studied day. The results of wind flow routing by HYSPLIT model showed that the origin of dust storm mass had been North West of Iraq and east of Syria which had entered Iran with a north west-south east direction (figures 3 & 4).

The study of circulation patterns transferring dust storms in the South and Center of Iran have abundant importance. For example, the west region of Iran isn’t a source of dust because of natural characteristics such as mountainous areas, high rainfalls and dense vegetation. But, dust storms of this region are non-local. This region is the transport route of climatic systems into Iran, and accepts the most effectiveness from these systems. According to source regions of Iran dust storms which are hyper-arid lands of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria and North Africa, this study is a connective step between large scale circulation patterns and temporal and spatial activities of dust storms in the South and Center of Iran. According to the results of this study which has examined the relationship between large scale synoptic patterns and variety of space-time dust storm activities in Iran using synoptic maps of sea level pressure circulation patterns, 500 hPa geo-potential height, wind direction data, vertical velocity, surface temperature with geo data of dust storms in the studied stations and wind flow routing model, it can be concluded that dynamic models can be presented by consensus of various specialists for this destructive environmental phenomenon. Although, using the capability of satellite imagery and dust storm investigating using them can be of great importance for future studies. In general, the results of this research shows that wind flow routing model and atmosphere studies have the suitable capability for recognition and monitoring of dust storm path.

Wide Impact range of dust storms is one of the major characteristics that influence thousands of kilometers. The evaluation of relationship between wind speed and direction، visibility، air pressure and precipitation with frequency of dust storm occurrences in long-term، provides a complete knowledge of their content and provides useful information for solving this phenomena. The major sources of dust aerosols entering to west of Iran is Syrian-Sahara and Nofoud-Sahara in north of Arabian Peninsula (Zolfaghari، 2005). Study area: In this study we investigate dust storms، in Sar-Pol-Zohab (lat 45̊ 57́ 45̋، lon 34˚ 3́ 45̋)، using meteorological data. So، we intend to analyze speed and direction of winds during dust storms. The study area is a semi arid region، with mean precipitation of 421. 3 mm annually. Meteorological data was obtanied from Iranian Meteorological Organization during 1986 to 2009 which includes: Frequency of occurrence، storm types، speed and direction of wind، relative humidity، air pressure، and visibility. WRPLOT View software version 5. 3 was used to draw annual، seasonal and monthly windrose plot. Then the data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 17 software. Finally SURFER 8. 0 full version software was used to analyze the relationship between speed and direction of the wind and visibility. In this study we focus on widespread dust in suspension in the air that is not raised by wind or near station at the time period which includes time range between 14th of July 1986 to 2009، totally 152 storms. The frequency of dust storms has increased during recent years. Monthly investigation showed that the maximum days of dust storms occure in July by 4. 5 day per month and 108 days in the whole period. The minimal occurrences are in December. The most frequent dust storm days are seen in warm months (June، July and August) and the least frequent dust storm days are seen during cold months (November، December and January). The investigation of visibility، precipitation، relative humidity، pressure and speed and direction of the wind reveals an average decrease of 4313 m that in some cases it is decreased to 100 m. Relative humidity was 35. 4% and pressure of 1006. 55 hPa is reported. The average speed of wind was about 5. 1 knot and the direction was mostly west to south. Correlation investigation between climatological factors and visibility shows a weak relationship between the two، but there is a direct relation between speed of the wind and visibility. Investigation period is divided into two periods: (1) windrose at highest rate and (2) windrose at lowest rate which the following characteristic are seen in each period respectively. In first period western، northern and south western winds are seen which western wind (11 knot) plays a major role. In the second period، western winds are decreased and southern winds are increased، and the speed of wind in this period reach to more than 22 knots. General analysis of whole period shows that western، north western and south western winds play major role during storm events. Monthly windrose analysis reveals that winds directions were western during the months that dust storms had been increased. Also result showed an increase in the number of the storms that are not raised by wind or near station which tends toward west. Monthly trends verify the increase of storms in warm seasons due to a decrease in humidity. With respect to the results، we can calculate that the dust storms are originated outside of this region and Aeolian-sediments are not from this region. Also in this region dust storms occur at low speed of wind.