Experimental study of headcut erosion in cohesive soils under different consolidation types and hydraulic parameters

Headcut is a change in stream channel elevation, where there is concentrated flow. Most of the past studies focus on non-cohesive soils, although many problems on the streams occur because of cohesive beds and banks. In this study, eight samples of cohesive soils, with a different composition of silt and clay, for different waterfall heights and flow velocity under long- and short-term natural consolidation conditions were tested. In one of the tests, a sand layer was settled on the headcut bed to investigate its impact on headcut erosion. By increasing clay content, the headcut will remain vertical as it moves backward. Result showed that the effect of clay content reduction was more noticeable under the long-term consolidation condition. In general, the effect of clay percentage variation on the measured parameters is much higher than the effects of waterfall height or flow velocity, and the effect of consolidation type and adding a sand layer on the measured values is much higher than the effect of clay percentage variation on the waterfall height and flow velocity.     

The effect of different meteorological parameters on the temporal variations of reference evapotranspiration

Temporal changes of meteorological variables can affect reference evapotranspiration (ET₀). The goal of the present research is to analyze the changes of ET₀ and identify the impact of effective meteorological parameters to the changes of ET₀. For this purpose, daily meteorological data recorded in 30 synoptic stations of Iran during 1960–2014 were used. The annual and seasonal values of ET₀ were calculated by the recorded data. To calculate ET₀, FAO56 Penman–Monteith method (standard method) was used. The annual and seasonal trends of ET₀ and its eight effective parameters were analyzed. Then the contributions of effective parameters changes on ET₀ were determined. To analyze ET₀ trend at annual and seasonal scales, two common methods, Spearman’s Rho and Mann–Kendall tests, were used. The R ² = 0.99 showed that the results of the mentioned methods were similar and on the basis of T-statistic <0.057, their difference was not significant (95% confidence level). Therefore, only one method’s results (Spearman’s Rho) were reported. On the basis of Spearman’s Rho results, the annual and seasonal values of ET₀ had negative trend in most of arid and semi-arid stations while the trend of this parameter was positive in humid and very humid stations. At annual and seasonal scales, decreasing in wind speed (W), temperature (T), sunshine hours (n), minimum temperature (TN), dew point temperature (TD), maximum temperature (TX), saturation vapor pressure deficit (SVPD) and solar radiation (RS) was observed in 58, 54, 39, 43, 56, 65, 65 and 37% studied stations, respectively. In many scales, the results showed that TX and W were the most effective meteorological variables on ET₀ changes and then SVPD was located in second step in arid and semi-arid stations. In humid and very humid stations, W was the first effective parameter at all scales, except autumn.     

An integrated object-based image analysis and CA-Markov model approach for modeling land use/land cover trends in the Sarab plain

The present paper is an attempt to integrate a semi-automated object-based image analysis (OBIA) classification framework and a cellular automata-Markov model to study land use/land cover (LULC) changes. Land use maps for the Sarab plain in Iran for the years 2000, 2006, and 2014 were created from Landsat satellite data, by applying an OBIA classification using the normalized difference vegetation index, salinity index, moisture stress index, soil-adjusted vegetation index, and elevation and slope indicators. The classifications yielded overall accuracies of 91, 93, and 94% for 2000, 2006, and 2014, respectively. Finally, using the transition matrix, the spatial distribution of land use was simulated for 2020. The results of the study revealed that the number of orchards with irrigated agriculture and dry-farm agriculture in the Sarab plain is increasing, while the amount of bare land is decreasing. The results of this research are of great importance for regional authorities and decision makers in strategic land use planning.     

Evidence for the occurrence of hydrogeochemical processes in the groundwater of Khoy plain,northwestern Iran,using ionic ratios and geochemical modeling

Rapid population growth, industrialization, and agricultural expansion in the Khoy area (northwestern Iran) have led to its dependence on groundwater and degradation of groundwater quality. This study attempts to decipher the major processes and factors that degrade the groundwater quality of the Khoy plain. For this purpose, 54 groundwater samples from unconfined and confined aquifers of the plain were collected in July 2017 and analyzed for major cations and anions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, HCO₃, SO_4, and Cl), minor ions (NO₃ and F), and Al. Magnesium and bicarbonate were identified as the dominant cation and anion, respectively. Several ionic ratios and geochemical modeling using PHREEQC indicated that the most important hydrogeochemical processes to affect groundwater quality in the plain were weathering and dissolution of evaporitic and silicate minerals, mixing, and ion exchange. There were smaller effects from evaporation and anthropogenic factors (e.g., industries). Results showed that the high salinity of the groundwater in the northeast area of the plain was due to the high solubility of the evaporitic minerals, e.g., halite and gypsum. Reverse ion exchange and the contribution of mineral dissolution were more significant than ion exchange in the northeastern part of the plain. Elevated salinity of the groundwater in the southeast was attributed mostly to reverse ion exchange and somewhat to evaporation.     

A new approach for developing comprehensive agricultural drought index using satellite-derived biophysical parameters and factor analysis method

The accurate assessment of drought and its monitoring is highly depending on the selection of appropriate indices. Despite the availability of countless drought indices, due to variability in environmental properties, a single universally drought index has not been presented yet. In this study, a new approach for developing comprehensive agricultural drought index from satellite-derived biophysical parameters is presented. Therefore, the potential of satellite-derived biophysical parameters for improved understanding of the water status of pistachio (Pistachio vera L.) crop grown in a semiarid area is evaluated. Exploratory factor analysis with principal component extraction method is performed to select the most influential parameters from seven biophysical parameters including surface temperature (T _s), surface albedo (α), leaf area index (LAI), soil heat flux (G _o), soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and net radiation (R _n). T _s and G _o were found as the most effective parameters by this method. However, T _s, LAI, α, and SAVI that accounts for 99.6 % of the total variance of seven inputs were selected to model a new biophysical water stress index (BPWSI). The values of BPWSI were stretched independently and compared with the range of actual evapotranspiration estimated through well-known METRIC (mapping evapotranspiration at high resolution with internal calibration) energy balance model. The results showed that BPWSI can be efficiently used for the prediction of the pistachio water status (RMSE of 0.52, 0.31, and 0.48 mm/day on three image dates of April 28, July 17, and August 2, 2010). The study confirmed that crop water status is accounted by several satellite-based biophysical parameters rather than single parameter.     

Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Mobarak Formation (Lower Carboniferous) in Kiyasar Area,SE Sari,Northern Iran

The Mobarak Formation is near the town of Kiyasar in the south-east of Sari city, northern Iran. This formation conformably overlies the Geirud Formation (Upper Devonian). The lower part of the Mobarak Formation consisting of shales and thin- to medium-bedded limestone toward the top of these sequences changes into alternations of dark limestone and interbedded gray to black shales. Weathered yellow thick-bedded shales are observed at the top of the section. This formation is covered unconformably by sandstones attributed to the Dorud Formation (Lower Permian). The thickness of the formation in this region is 250 m. Four rock units have been recognized in this section. Foraminiferal biostratigraphy shows that the age of the Mobarak Formation in the Kiaysar region ranges from Lower Tournaisian to Early Middle Visean. The foraminifer Zones FAZ1 and FAZ2 are correlated with the Lower Tournaisian and Upper Tournaisian, whereas Zones FAZ3 and FAZ4 correlate with the Visean. Affinities exist between specimens recorded in the Kiyasar section with species known from other regions in eastern and Central Alborz, but there are important differences in their appearance.     

APG:A novel python-based ArcGIS toolbox to generate absence-datasets for geospatial studies

One important step in binary modeling of environmental problems is the generation of absence-datasets that are traditionally generated by random sampling and can undermine the quality of outputs.To solve this problem,this study develops the Absence Point Generation(APG)toolbox which is a Python-based ArcGIS toolbox for automated construction of absence-datasets for geospatial studies.The APG employs a frequency ratio analysis of four commonly used and important driving factors such as altitude,slope degree,topographic wetness index,and distance from rivers,and considers the presence locations buffer and density layers to define the low potential or susceptibility zones where absence-datasets are gener-ated.To test the APG toolbox,we applied two benchmark algorithms of random forest(RF)and boosted regression trees(BRT)in a case study to investigate groundwater potential using three absence datasets i.e.,the APG,random,and selection of absence samples(SAS)toolbox.The BRT-APG and RF-APG had the area under receiver operating curve(AUC)values of 0.947 and 0.942,while BRT and RF had weaker per-formances with the SAS and Random datasets.This effect resulted in AUC improvements for BRT and RF by 7.2,and 9.7％from the Random dataset,and AUC improvements for BRT and RF by 6.1,and 5.4％from the SAS dataset,respectively.The APG also impacted the importance of the input factors and the pattern of the groundwater potential maps,which proves the importance of absence points in environmental bin-ary issues.The proposed APG toolbox could be easily applied in other environmental hazards such as landslides,floods,and gully erosion,and land subsidence.     

Analysis of pervasive precipitation in similar gradient areas of Iran

Precipitation is a major climatic element with high spatial variations. Temporal and spatial variations may differ in large and small scales. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to study areas with similar gradients in terms of precipitation patterns in order to shed light on the complexities of precipitation variations. In the present study, attempts were made to identify areas with similar gradients experiencing the same precipitation pattern over a 50-year period (1964–2013). To this end, data were collected from synoptic stations in Iran in two phases (i.e., 1434 stations in the first phase and 673 stations in the second one). Alexanderson’s technique was adopted to examine sudden changes in precipitation patterns. The results showed that five regions with similar gradients could be identified in terms of precipitation patterns: negative and high variations, negative and moderate variations, positive and high variations, positive and moderate variations, and little or no variations. The distribution of such regions indicated that the regions with positive trends experienced more annual variations and had further spatial distribution. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the regions with negative precipitation patterns experienced more sudden changes in comparison with those with positive precipitation patterns. Additionally, more variations were observed in the precipitation patterns in recent years.     

Stability of sandy slopes under seepage conditions

Stability against shallow mass sliding in saturated sandy slopes under seepage depends on the flow direction and hydraulic gradient, particularly near the ground surface. Two modes of instability i.e., Coulomb sliding and liquefaction have been studied and the critical flow directions discussed. The utility of the numerical approach in solving complex flow problems with irregular boundaries and surface topography is demonstrated by means of two slope examples with different internal drainage conditions. The numerical results for the seepage gradients at different points are compared with those predicted by the simple expression derived in this study, and the corresponding effects on the stability are evaluated.     

Interactive effect of nitrogen fertilizer and hydrocarbon pollution on soil biological indicators

The investigation of the impact of different forms of nitrogen fertilizer (NO₃-N and NH₄-N) on microbial parameters, enzyme activities and phytotoxicity in a petroleum-contaminated soil was evaluated by an incubation study. The tested enzymes, microbial activity and seed germination index showed different patterns in response to both petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer addition and time of incubation. The results apparently showed that the contamination of soil with petroleum has a negative effect on soil ecosystem. Nitrogen fertilizer could improve inhibition of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil. Nevertheless, nitrogen fertilizer had no significant effect on urease activity in the petroleum-contaminated soil. As compared to NO₃-N, the addition of NH₄-N to the soil resulted in a greater impact on soil performance as attested by the recovery of the soil germination capability and higher values of the respiration. The application of nitrogen fertilizer may be suggested as a good strategy for restoring soils in regions affected by the same problem.