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Assessment of Rural Vulnerability to Sand and Dust Storms in Iran

Authors :
Ali Darvishi Boloorani
Masoud Soleimani
Najmeh Neysani Samany
Mohsen Bakhtiari
Masomeh Qareqani
Ramin Papi
Saham Mirzaei
Source :
Atmosphere, Vol 14, Iss 2, p 281 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Climate-related hazards such as sand and dust storms (SDS) have various impacts on human health, socio-economy, environment, and agroecosystems. Iran has been severely affected by domestic and external SDS during the last two decades. Considering the fragile economy of Iran’s rural areas and the strong dependence of livelihood on agroecosystems, SDS cause serious damage to human communities. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct a vulnerability assessment for developing SDS risk mitigation plans. In this study, various components of SDS vulnerability were formulated through a geographic information system (GIS)-based integrated assessment approach using composite indicators. By implementing a GIS multiple-criteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA) model using socioeconomic and remote sensing data, a map of rural vulnerability to SDS was produced. Our results show that about 37% of Iran’s rural areas have experienced high and very high levels of vulnerability to SDS. Rural areas in the southeast and south of Iran, especially Sistan and Baluchestan and Hormozgan provinces are more vulnerable to SDS. The findings of this study provide a basis for developing SDS disaster risk-reduction plans and enabling the authorities to prioritize SDS mitigation policies at the provincial administrative scale in Iran.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20734433
Volume :
14
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Atmosphere
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.5cc14f5404254a589f7deb828de3a001
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020281