Development of A Wind Erosion Sensitivity Model Using Multi-Criteria Assessment Method (Case Study: Hamoun Wildlife Refuge)

Wind erosion and dust storms are among the most important natural hazards and have negative impacts on environment and people. The Hamoun international wetland- located in the southeast of Iran and southwest of Afghanistan, at the estuary of the Helmand River – due to the severe droughts during the last three decades has become the main source of soil erosion. The purpose of this study is to investigate the sensitivity of wind erosion in the Iranian section of the Hamoun wetland as the Hamoun wildlife refuge. Byliterature reviewing and using experts’ knowledge, 15 effective criteria in the phenomenon of wind erosion were determined and weighted by using AHP method. The weights analysis showed that among the criteria, vegetation cover with 0.13 had the highest weight. Using satellite images related to November 2021, the SAVI vegetation index was prepared as an index of the amount of vegetation cover.  To prepare the soil criteria maps, 135 pints of surface soil were taken and transferred to the lab. After determining the criteria value in each sample, the map of each criterion was prepared using the IDW method. The criteria were standardized using the FUZZY method, and then combined by applying the calculated weights and using the weighted linear combination method to prepare the wind erodibility model. The prepared model was classified into five erodibility classes. To assess model accuracy, the wind erosion threshold speed was calculated by installing a portable wind tunnel device at 40 sites. The resulting figures were classified into five levels according to the erodibility classes, and compared with the corresponding erosion class of the wind tunnel sites.  An overall accuracy of 81% for the prepared model shows capability of this model to prepare an accurate wind erosion model.