Homayoun Khoshravan
Abstract
Extended Abstract:
Introduction
Increased density of Co2 in the atmosphere during the Anthropocene epoch has resulted in pervasive concerns for the global environment. Global warming has resulted in sea level rise and coastal flooding. Forecasting has indicated that a vast area of coastal countries ...
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Extended Abstract:
Introduction
Increased density of Co2 in the atmosphere during the Anthropocene epoch has resulted in pervasive concerns for the global environment. Global warming has resulted in sea level rise and coastal flooding. Forecasting has indicated that a vast area of coastal countries and their economic and social infrastructureswill be damaged due to 200 cm sea level rise by2100. Sea level rise in oceans has caused coastal erosion and flooding. Thus, it is considered as a real threat to coastal environment. The Caspian Sea environment has reacted differently to climate changesduring the last 70 years and vast areas of its coastal lagoons have dried. Therefore, the present study primarily seeks toinvestigate ecological variations of coastal habitats in the Gorgan Bay during the period of 1995 to 2019.
Materials and methods
Gorgan Bay and Miankaleh Lagoon are considered to be among global biosphere reservesand the most important protected areasalong the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea. The present study has evaluated coastal variations, such as shoreline displacement, changes in the depth of sea bed, land cover and coastal habitats using satellite images and GIS processing. Shorelines of Gorgan Bay are determined usingremote sensing software Envi 5.3, while land cover and coastal habitats are evaluated through GIS processing in Arc – Map 10. 5. The shoreline is determined through the calculationsperformedonthe proportion of green and blue bands in reflected electromagnetic waves and histogram thresholding of near infrared (NIR) spectrum in Envi 5.3. The total area of Gorgan Bay was determinedusingthe Normalized Distance Water Index (NDWI).The most important land covers and coastal habitats are classified using Support Vector Machine (SVM). Finally,variations of coastal habitats are calculated using Change Detection Workflow index and the final maps areproduced in Arc Map 10.5.
Results and discussion
Results indicate that due to about 150 cm decrease in the Caspian Sea level from 1995 to 2019, the total area ofGorgan Bay has faced about 176 km decrease. Bathymetric maps shows that the depth of Gorgan Bay has decreased dramatically along the East to west side. The depth of the Ashouradeh and Chopoghlei inlets have also decreased and vast areas of these water bodies haveturned into arid islands. The Gorgan Bay is connected to the Caspian Sea through some narrow channels. The most important land covers and coastal habitats of the Gorgan Bay in 2019 include sandy beach (2%), salt marsh (7%), brackish marsh (14%), wetland (15%), mudflat (7%), coastal forest (10%) and coastal lagoons (45%). The total area of coastal lagoons, vegetation covering and sandy beaches have decreased from 1995 to 2019 and the area of the brackish marsh, salt marsh, mud flat and pit wetlands have increased at the same time. The total area of sandy beaches have decreased about 52 Km2 since 1995.Instead,the area covered by salt marshes and brackish marshes have increased by about 87 and 60 Km2 during the same period.62 Km2 of mud flat have been created during the same time,and thus, the area of Miankaleh Lagoon and Gorgan Bay have decreased by about 176 Km2. The environment of Gorgan Bay and Miankaleh Lagoon is directly related to the fluctuations in theCaspian Sea level. Survival of these coastal lagoons depends on permanent water exchange between the Caspian Sea and Gorgan Bay. Rapid fluctuations of the Caspian Sea level and high levelof deposition are considered to be among the most important factorsof coastal habitats destruction and ecosystems displacement. These natural phenomena happened twice during the Anthropocene period (1945- 1978 and 1995-2019).
Conclusion
Results have confirmed that arid ecosystems have replaced aquatic ecosystems in study area. The main results of the study have confirmed that the fluctuation in the Caspian Sea level has direct impact on coastal habitats of the study area and decreasing sea level could change marginal ecosystems. Due to the decrease in water exchange volume rate between the Caspian Sea and Gorgan Bay during the 1995- 2019 period, a 32 percent decrease has happened in the area ofGorgan Bay and salt marshes have dominated along the Gorgan Bay coastal area. Unfortunately, the continual decrease inthe Caspian Sea level can destroy biodiversity and coastal habitats in the future. Therefore,integrated coastal zone management (ICZM (is influential insaving and preserving of the Gorgan Bay.
Alireaza Darbane Astaneh; sajad ferdowsi; Hamid Reza Shahmohammadi
Abstract
Extended Abstract Introduction Marine tourism is one of the most attractive and most popular tourist branches that has flourished much in recent decades and has attracted a significant part of tourism economy. In the meantime, despite having extensive coastal borders in the north and south, Iran has ...
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Extended Abstract Introduction Marine tourism is one of the most attractive and most popular tourist branches that has flourished much in recent decades and has attracted a significant part of tourism economy. In the meantime, despite having extensive coastal borders in the north and south, Iran has not yet been able to provide tourists with desirable services in relation to marine tourism. The constructing of marine tourism sites in coastal areas is one of the measures that can be taken in this regard. In order to locate such sites, it is needed to take the following criteria into consideration: distance from the sea, view of the sea, exposing to the sun, land use, distance from natural hazards such as faults, floods, erosion, distance from the residential areas, distance from the rivers and lakes, distance from road networks, distance from protected areas and percentage of slope. In this regard, the present paper aims to determine the most appropriate places for the construction of marine tourism sites in the city of Tonekabon, considering the importance of quantitative and qualitative identification and assessment of the characteristics of the areas. It is hoped that managers and planners can provide the ground for developing marine tourism on the southern margin of the Caspian Sea in accordance with the available capacities, by assessing and analyzing this process in the coastal areas of this Sea. The present research seeks to answer the following question: Where are the most suitable places to build a marine tourism site in the city of Tonekabon? Materials & Methods The present research with descriptive-analytical method aims to identify the most desirable locations for the construction of marine tourism sites. The required information was collected by a library method. In order to weight the criteria under study, the opinions of 32 experts were surveyed and the AHP method was used. After determining the weight of each criterion, the information layers of each of the criteria were prepared in the GIS environment and finally, with overlaying of the information layers, the most suitable locations for the marine tourism sites were introduced. Results & Discussion According to the experts, the criteria of exposing to the sun, slope percentage, sea view, land use, severity of erosion in the area, and the criteria of distance from the sea, distance from the road networks, distance from the faults, distance from the protected areas, distance from the rivers, distance from the residential areas and distance from the areas subject to flood, were scored based on the distance (Table-1). Then, the information layers were created based on each of the criteria in the GIS environment and rated according to the weight of each criterion. Accordingly, four areas in the city of Tonekabon have been identified as more desirable compared to other points in order to locate the marine tourism sites. Conclusion The correct location of the various land uses by using tools, techniques, and scientific models and in accordance with the principles and rules of planning can be efficient in solving land use problems. Therefore, proper planning for the creation of marine tourism sites in the proposed places, in order of priority, will provide sustainable tourism development and mutually the economic development of the region. Accordingly, based on the analyses and the results of the research, the following suggestions are presented for the construction of a marine tourism site in general: - Accurate and complete identification of facilities and services available in neighboring settlements with the proposed location. - A detailed study of the proposed location for the construction of a marine tourism site - Investigation and feasibility of the deployment of activities related to the marine tourism in the proposed location. - Studying and identifying the facilities needed by tourists visiting the sea within the desired range. - Advertising and introducing the capabilities of marine tourism at national and regional levels. - Encouraging investors and local people to invest in the construction of tourism sites. - Allocating sufficient funds and credits to build the primary infrastructure. - Strengthening and improving roads and communication paths to the proposed location - Familiarizing people and authorities with the benefits of marine tourism and trying to attract their participation - Improving and enhancing the safety and security conditions within areas of interest.
sajad ferdowsi; Hamid Reza Shahmohammadi; Mahboobeh Jalali
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In recent years, the economic benefits of tourism has attracted attention of many countries that have maritime border. In this regard, Caspian Sea which located in the northern part of Iran, has special potential in the field of tourism and it can be seen a bright future ...
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
In recent years, the economic benefits of tourism has attracted attention of many countries that have maritime border. In this regard, Caspian Sea which located in the northern part of Iran, has special potential in the field of tourism and it can be seen a bright future in the field of tourism just with a holistic approach in this field. Meanwhile, climate is the most important factor in tourism development. General Specifications of Destination Weather and daily, monthly and seasonal changes, temperature, precipitation, humidity, radiation, wind and other elements of the climate are important information for tourism destinations so that the applicant can plan in terms of travel time, type of clothing and equipment required. Tourism climatology includes a variety of topics about two applied issues of climate and tourism which is linked to the principles of atmospheric science, and in particular the study of climate on the one hand, and tourism, recreation and leisure on the other. In general, the present study seeks to answer the following question: What are the most appropriate timeframe for the development of tourism on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea?
Materials & Methods
In this research, the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, including three provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran and Gilan, as areas adjacent to the sea, have been studied and analyzed. Accordingly, 15 cities of Mazandaran province, 4 cities of Golestan province and 9 cities of Gilan province are located on the southern margin of the Caspian Sea that they are analyzed in terms of tourism climate index. The present study has been done on the method of descriptive- analytical and with aims of identifying the most desirable periods of climatic conditions for the development of tourism. The required data is obtained by method of library through documents, journals and books. In this regard, the required climatic parameters were collected from 2010 to 2014 in a 5-year period. In order to determination the appropriate timeframe for tourism development has been used from the method of TCI (Tourism Climate Indicator).
Results & Discussion
Based on the collected data, the TCI was calculated for each of cities along the Caspian Sea with a description of its descriptive class in different months of the year. The analysis of TCI indicate that respectively June and July are the most desirable time in terms of climate for the presence of tourists on the coast and the Caspian Sea. So that of the 28 neighboring cities of the Caspian Sea in June, there are 6 cities with very good climatic conditions, 6 cities with good climatic conditions, 12 cities with acceptable climatic conditions and 4 cities with low favorable climate conditions. Also In July, there are 6 points with very good conditions, 4 points with good conditions, 15 points with acceptable conditions and 3 points with low favorable climate conditions. In the meantime, in terms of the desirability of the climatic conditions, after June and July, the months of September, August, April, March, October, January, May, February, November and December are located.
Conclusion
In this research, the climatic conditions of the southern margin of the Caspian Sea, as one of the most important criteria for the development of tourism, were investigated. The results indicate that the southern margins of the Caspian Sea, each within a given time period, can provide favorable climatic conditions in order to attract tourists to these beaches. Somehow that in most of the months of the year you can see the favorable climate conditions for tourism in the area adjacent to the sea. The results of TCI indicate that over the years it can be seen areas with desirable climatic conditions in the Caspian Sea which it can be provided growth and development of tourism in this area with planning in appropriate time and place. Desirability of climatic conditions in the four months and coincided with the beginning of summer vacation, is a special opportunity to promote tourism and benefit from its significant economic advantages. In this regard the months of June, July, August and September is the most desirable periods for planning to presence of tourists and delivery of services to them. Also the months of April, March, October, January, May, February, November and December due to desirability climatic conditions are the next priority. Of course this does not mean that in these months, tourism remains silent, but the ratings is only Desirability of climate in different months. In fact, in almost all months of the year can be seen a favorable climate for the tourism in the area neighboring the sea.
Masoud Torabi Azad; Abbas Ali Aliakbari Bidokhti; Hossein Salehianfar
Abstract
Many hydrological conditions in the seas depend on temperature variation, and the rate of this parameter is an important determinant in the environmental conditions of each area. The variations in temperature and surface wind causes changes in the density of the sea water, and the change in density affects ...
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Many hydrological conditions in the seas depend on temperature variation, and the rate of this parameter is an important determinant in the environmental conditions of each area. The variations in temperature and surface wind causes changes in the density of the sea water, and the change in density affects the stability rate and mixing of the sea water column. In this research, the mutual effect of sea surface temperature (SST) on surface wind speed in the southern Caspian region (Mazandaran province) has been investigated. First, the sea surface temperature data was collected by the AVHRR sensor of NOAA satellite and surface wind speed data was collected by QuikSCAT satellite for an area of 340 × 220 square kilometers in the southern Caspian Sea. After analyzing the satellite data for sea surface temperaturel, its monthly and seasonal variations were drawn by Tecplot software for this area. It was found that the average seasonal temperature (spring and summer) of the eastern coast of southern Caspian Sea is 0.87 degrees centigrade more than that of the eastern coast. In order to investigate the mutual effect of the sea surface temperature on surface wind speed, four stations, A and D (in the western region), B and C (in the eastern region) were selected on the southern Caspian Sea. Then, the graph of temperature time series, temperature difference between the four stations, time series of wind speed and time series of wind speed difference between the four stations from 2000 to 2005 were plotted and compared for the spring and summer seasons. The results indicate that, with increasing temperature difference between the four stations, the difference in speed also increases in 80% of the cases for the summer and in 66% of the cases in the spring season.In these two seasons, because of the decrease in the activity of atmospheric systems, the temperature difference between the two stations has a significant effect on improving the wind speed difference.Average wind speed difference in the statistical period of 2000-2005 at the stations is 0.7 m/s for the spring and 1.37 m/s for the summer season.
Mas'ud Torabi Azaad; Rahim Eftekhari; Aliakbar Rasuli; Amir Siyah Sarani
Volume 17, Issue 67 , October 2008, , Pages 57-61
Abstract
During the 2001 World Ocean research patrol in the Caspian Sea, physical parameters of temperature, salinity and density of the Caspian Sea were measured. The range of selected stations for measuring these parameters included the entire Caspian Sea. Of course, these measurements have been taken discretely ...
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During the 2001 World Ocean research patrol in the Caspian Sea, physical parameters of temperature, salinity and density of the Caspian Sea were measured. The range of selected stations for measuring these parameters included the entire Caspian Sea. Of course, these measurements have been taken discretely in the studied area. In the present study, the spatial modeling of these parameters have been carried out using the ArcGIS 9.2 software, and the current state of the work is the creation of continuous maps of the parameters present at various depths with high validity. These smart maps have the ability to to provide with the parameter value of each place of particular coordinates in the studied area with a mouse pointer click.
