Central Iranian Plateau Research Articles

Application of Bayesian networks for sustainability assessment in catchment modeling and management (Case study: The Hablehrood river catchment)

Catchment management is a process which increases the sustainable development and management of all catchment resources in order to maximize the balance among socioeconomic welfare and the sustainability of vital ecosystems. The increase of anthropogenic activities within river catchments causes degradation and serious problems for stakeholders and managers, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Although there are many techniques for solving these problems, it is not easy for catchment managers to apply them. An integrated Bayesian network model framework was applied to evaluate the sustainability of a semi-arid river catchment located in the Iranian Central Plateau river basin encompassing 32.6km2 area on the Hablehrood river catchment, located in the northern part of the Iranian Central Plateau river basin. The research illustrated the assessment of the relevant management problems, the model framework, and the techniques applied to extract input data. Results for the study area implementation and a suggestion for management are described and discussed.

Ancient Iran, the Origin Land of Wind Catcher in the World

In this study, wind catcher originality has been investigated and their ancient kinds in Iran were characterized. Iranian vernacular architecture is full of creativity and innovation which indicate the intelligence and ability. Unbearable heat, especially in the central plateau of Iran, is one of the factors which sometimes can be unbearable and create serious threats for most of the individuals' life in the absence of necessary arrangements. Wind catcher is an engineering architectural masterpiece of earth to deal with this unbearable heat. Wind catcher is among the manifestations and symbols of Persian civilization. It is not exactly obvious that in which city the first wind catcher is built, but medieval travel writers have frequently talked about desert wind catchers in Yazd. History and background of using the wind catcher is unknown due to its position at the highest level of structure and because is the first place at the risk of damage. The wind catcher, belonged to the eighth century AH is the oldest wind catcher which has kept safe from the harmful events in Iran. Architects and designers of this architectural element have applied this element in their designs with understanding the principles of thermodynamics, aerodynamics, heat transfer, material strength and thermal human comfort. However, the historical evidence certainly indicates the use of wind catcher in Iran before the Arabs and the Persian Gulf area. This study seeks to answer the questions such as the identity and origin of wind catcher, the construction technology and its types, as well as proving the Iranian identity of wind catcher and providing the appropriate and scientific responses for the researchers such as Hassan Fathy (famous Egyptian architect) and Abdel Moneim EL Shorbagy (UAE researcher), each of whom have attributed the background of wind catcher to the locations except Iran, by the study of available historical resources and exploring the history of wind catcher in Iran.

Optimal Reservoir Operation Based on Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater Using Neuro-Fuzzy Systems

Reservoir operation cannot be carried out without due heed to surface water and groundwater resources, since neglecting either will have irreversible consequences. Optimal operation of the Zayandehrood Dam which supplies water into the Zayandehrood River basin in the central plateau of Iran is a case in point which warrants due consideration paid to both dam operation and the climate conditions in the region suffering from a history of successive droughts. The main objective of the present research is to develop operation rules for the Zayandehrood reservoir through a combined perspective of both surface and ground water resources using the fuzzy inference system, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. The objective is to determine the share of the Zayandehrood reservoir in meeting downstream water demands. For this purpose, the water shortage and the dramatic groundwater drawdown in the Zayandehrood River basin faced with in recent years have been studied in an attempt to develop operation models capable of controlling groundwater drawdown. The models indicate that not only can groundwater drawdown be controlled, but that it is also possible to establish a greater sustainability. Different operation models have been compared in terms of their operation criteria. Results show that the ANFIS model composed of optimal data enjoys a higher sustainability compared to others.

Rapid Estimation of Peak Ground Velocity and Earthquake Location Using Small Magnitude Earthquakes in the Tehran Region, Iran

Online Material: Supplemental tables. The Tehran metropolis is located in an extensive area between the Alborz mountain belt to the north and the central Iranian plateau to the south. Tehran, as the political and economic capital of Iran, is considered one of the most populated cities in the world. From the point of view of vulnerability to natural disasters, Tehran is of great concern because of its basic infrastructures and population concentration. The Alborz mountain belt is a part of the Himalayan–Alps orogenic belt with numerous active faults, including the Mosha reverse fault, the North Tehran thrust fault, the Parchin, the Kahrizak, and the South and North Rey faults, with high seismic potential in the study region (Fig. 1). The Mosha fault is one of the fundamental structures of the central Alborz mountains and is situated north of Tehran. This fault is concave to the north and extends from the edge of the mountain range in the west to the eastern Alborz mountains and can be considered an upthrust in some places and an overthrust in others (Moinfar et al. , 1994; Berberian and Yeats, 1999). The North Tehran fault is the most prominent tectonic structure in the immediate vicinity of Tehran for which the trace is east–west to east‐northeast–west‐southwest and slightly concave to the south (Berberian and Yeats, 1999). The Tehran urban district is extended across thick alluvium layers over bedrock with complex geological structure. Based on historic seismic documents, Tehran is surrounded by several specific faults with return periods of about 150 years, but no damaging earthquake has occurred since 1830 (Moinfar et al. , 1994; Berberian and Yeats, 1999), when an estimated 45,000 …

Early Mining and Metallurgy on the Western Central Iranian Plateau: The First Five Years of Work (Book Review)

This volume presages a reawakening of archaeology in Iran, an area of the world that, despite having some of the earliest and most complex Early Bronze Age settlements, has been relatively closed to modern excavation and field research. The remit of the project is focused on the site of Arismān and its surroundings, located in the arid foothills of the Karkas Mountains, a marginalized ecological area that is rich in metal ore.

A Qualitative Survey of Five Antibiotics in a Water Treatment Plant in Central Plateau of Iran

Introduction. This study aimed to survey a total of five common human and veterinary antibiotics based on SPE-LC-MS-MS technology in a water treatment plant at central plateau of Iran. Also two sampling techniques, passive and grab samplings, were compared in the detection of selected antibiotics. Materials and Methods. In January to March 2012, grab and passive samples were taken from the influent and effluent of a water treatment plant. The samples were prepared using solid-phase extraction (SPE), and extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Results. The results showed that enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and tylosin were not detected in none of the samples. However, ampicillin was detected in the grab and passive samples taken from the influent (source water) of the plant, and ciprofloxacin was detected in passive samples taken from the influent and effluent (finished water) of the plant. Conclusion. The results imply that passive sampling is a better approach than grab sampling for the investigation of antibiotics in aquatic environments. The presence of ampicillin and ciprofloxacin in source water and finished water of the water treatment plant may lead to potential emergence of resistant bacteria that should be considered in future studies.

Sexual dimorphism in Trapelus lessonae (De Filippi, 1865) (Sauria: Agamidae) from western Iranian Plateau

We collected 60 adult males and 85 adult females of Trapelus lessonae De Filippi, 1863 in early May 2008 from central Iranian plateau to study sexual dimorphism in morphological traits as well as female reproductive traits. Size-related sexual dimorphism occurred in all the compared body dimensions. The largest female was 83.88 mm in snout-vent length, and the largest male was 73.12 mm. As well, adult males were larger in head size and tail length, whereas females were larger in body size and abdomen length. Males and females also presented differences in color pattern, and in the presence of preanal pores. The results suggest that, in Trapelus lessonae, sexual dimorphism in size is determined by sexual selection, competition between males and fecundity selection, fecundity advantage for large female size. A pattern generated by fecundity advantages enjoyed by large females.

Early villages and prehistoric sites in the Abharroud Basin, northwest of the Iranian Central Plateau

The Abharroud basin is an important region in archaeological studies of the northwestern outskirts of the central plateau, and the west and northwest of Iran. Considering its environmental capabilities and geographical location, studying the region can leads us to a better understanding of regional relations and also inter-regional interaction between the cultural-geographical regions. During the two seasons of archaeological survey, 257 archaeological sites were discovered, dating from the lower Palaeolithic to recent ages. Of these, 34 sites contained prehistoric remains. Most of the identified sites are the remains of scattered villages and seasonal camps in different areas of the basin, on the plain and also impassable heights.

Assessment of Ancient Fridges: A Sustainable Method to Storage Ice in Hot-Arid Climates

This article is an attempt to introducing ancient fridges as sustainable method to store ice in hot-arid Climates. Architectural heritages are considered as fundamental issue in the life of contemporaryworld.Hence, researches around this category despite of historical interest attractscientific scopesto providesustainable society through tourism industry and green architecture. In this paper among different Iranian heritage buildings, ancient fridges, or Pachal (in Persian), has been analyzed. Because of great importance of water and especially cold water in hot-arid climates, Hundreds of Pachals have built in central plateau of Iran. The interpretive technique has been applied to assessment ancient fridges. In addition, observation as a part of the authors` field work, and Historical documentsconcerning the traditional buildings built techniques and the architectural heritage of the Iraniantraditional fridges, are another part of this research. This article is atry to indicate that vernacular architecture of “Pachals” are very responsible monuments to fit the hard-life situation of hot-arid climates in ancient world.

Assessment of Ancient Fridges: A Sustainable Method to Storage Ice in Hot-Arid Climates

This article is an attempt to introducing ancient fridges as sustainable method to store ice in hot-arid Climates. Architectural heritages are considered as fundamental issue in the life of contemporaryworld.Hence, researches around this category despite of historical interest attractscientific scopesto providesustainable society through tourism industry and green architecture. In this paper among different Iranian heritage buildings, ancient fridges, or Pachal (in Persian), has been analyzed. Because of great importance of water and especially cold water in hot-arid climates, Hundreds of Pachals have built in central plateau of Iran. The interpretive technique has been applied to assessment ancient fridges. In addition, observation as a part of the authors` field work, and Historical documentsconcerning the traditional buildings built techniques and the architectural heritage of the Iraniantraditional fridges, are another part of this research. This article is atry to indicate that vernacular architecture of “Pachals” are very responsible monuments to fit the hard-life situation of hot-arid climates in ancient world.

Mesozoic to Eocene ductile deformation of western Central Iran: From Cimmerian collisional orogeny to Eocene exhumation

To advance our understanding of the Mesozoic to Eocene tectonics and kinematics of basement units exposed in the south-western Central Iran plateau, this paper presents new structural and thermochronological data from the Chapedony metamorphic core complex and hangingwall units, particularly from the Posht-e-Badam complex. The overall Paleogene structural characteristics of the area are related to an oblique convergent zone. The Saghand area represents part of a deformation zone between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, and can be interpreted to result from the Central Iran intracontinental deformation acting as a weak zone during Mesozoic to Paleogene times. Field and microstructural evidence reveal that the metamorphic and igneous rocks suffered a ductile shear deformation including mylonitization at the hangingwall boundary of the Eocene Chapedony metamorphic core complex. Comparison of deformation features in the mylonites and other structural features within the footwall unit leads to the conclusion that the mylonites were formed in a subhorizontal shear zone by NE–SW stretching during Middle to Late Eocene extensional tectonics. The Chapedony metamorphic core complex is characterized by amphibolite-facies metamorphism and development of S and S-L tectonic fabrics. The Posht-e-Badam complex was deformed by two stages during Cimmerian tectonic processes forming the Paleo-Tethyan suture.

Archeoseismicity and environmental crises at the Sialk Mounds, Central Iranian Plateau, since the Early Neolithic

During the long-lasting cultural sequences of the Shurābeh and Sialk archeological mounds (6200–550 BC) the inhabitants encountered numerous diversified crises along a narrow fertile passageway at the edge of the Central Iranian Plateau Great Desert. Some of the threats may be attributed to earthquakes, drastic climatic changes, and man-made environmental deterioration, which possibly led to the settlement withdrawing at different stages toward a more suitable location. Our study identified the occurrence of a large-magnitude earthquake around 3800 BC along the Kāshān fault, which is well-documented by various lines of circumstantial evidence, including: (i) numerous contemporaneous smashed skeletons and artifacts underneath collapsed walls and ceiling debris in several different areas; (ii) tilted and collapsed walls; (iii) nearly N–S oriented fallen large storage jars; and (iv) nearly vertical deep ground fractures cutting walls and floors of the Sialk III5 South Mound settlement. Archeological data also shows additional stratigraphic discontinuities and damages that may be attributed to earthquakes. However, damage features in limited exposed trenches are less conclusive and require additional careful excavations. Apparent ancient paleo-architectural innovative attempts to enhance the coherency/elasticity of the structures and minimize earthquake damage to buildings were also noted, suggesting the indigenous earthquake hazard mitigation endeavor. There seems to be a correlation between some site abandonment dates and possible drastic regional draught/cooling events. The natural and anthropogenic impacts addressed in this study constituted major threats to the sensitive archeological settlements at the fringe of the desert and the vicinity of the Kāshān active fault since antiquity.

New evidence for large earthquakes on the Central Iran plateau: palaeoseismology of the Anar fault

SUMMARY The Central Iran plateau appears aseismic during the last few millenniums based on instrumental and historical seismic records. Nevertheless, it is sliced by several strike-slip faults that are hundreds of kilometres long. These faults display along-strike, horizontal offsets of intermittent gullies that suggest the occurrence of earthquakes in the Holocene. Establishing this is crucial for accurately assessing the regional seismic hazard. The first palaeoseismic study performed on the 200-km long, NS striking Anar fault shows that this right-lateral fault hosted three large (Mw≈ 7) earthquakes during the Holocene or possibly Uppermost Pleistocene for the older one. These three seismic events are recorded within a sedimentary succession, which is not older than 15 ka, suggesting an average recurrence of at most 5 ka. The six optically stimulated luminescence ages available provide additional constraints and allow estimating that the three earthquakes have occurred within the following time intervals: 4.4 ± 0.8, 6.8 ± 1 and 9.8 ± 2 ka. The preferred age of the more recent event, ranging between 3600 and 5200 yr, suggests that the fault is approaching the end of its seismic cycle and the city of Anar could be under the threat of a destructive earthquake in the near future. In addition, our results confirm a previous minimum slip rate estimate of 0.8 ± 0.1 mm yr−1 for the Anar fault indicating that the westernmost prominent right-lateral faults of the Central Iran plateau are characterized by slip rates close to 1 mm yr−1. These faults, which have repeatedly produced destructive earthquakes with large magnitudes and long recurrence interval of several thousands of years during the Holocene, show that the Central Iran plateau does not behave totally as a rigid block and that its moderate internal deformation is nonetheless responsible for a significant seismic hazard.

Analysis of drought events for the semi-arid central plains of Iran with satellite and meteorological based indicators

The aim of this article is to study the spatial and temporal pattern of drought events in the Northeastern fringes of the Central Plateau of Iran using remote sensing and in situ meteorological data sets. Drought recognition is based on the analysis of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) derived from meteorological variables such as rainfall, and indices derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The latter includes the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), thye Temperature Condition Index (TCI), Land Surface Moisture (LSM) and the Vegetation Health Index (VHI). Analysis is confined to the spring season from 1998 to 2004, inclusive. Results show that indices derived from the thermal bands have a higher sensitivity to drought conditions than indices derived from visible bands in this area. Indices derived from reflective bands such as NDVI and VCI seem to be better correlated to meteorological parameters than thermal band-derived indices like TCI. Indices that are calculated from both reflective and thermal bands such as LSM and VHI do not seem to be a reliable measure of drought conditions in this region.

Comparative skull osteology of the lacertid lizards Eremias persica and Mesalina watsonana (Sauria: Lacertidae)

The skull of two lacertid lizards of Iran including Eremias persica from Isfahan Province, Central Iranian Plateau and Mesalina watsonana from Birjand in Southern Khorasan Province, Eastern Iran, was described and compared based on seven dry skull preparations. Prominent differences included: the shape of the premaxilla and its articulation with other skull elements, the shape of the frontal (particularly the form of its processes), the number of dentary teeth, the shape of the jugal, and the position of the parietal opening. Also in E. persica, the nasals were in contact with each other whereas in M. watsonana they were separated by the nasal process of the premaxilla and anteromedial process of the frontal. Absence of pterygoid teeth in M. watsonana and extended pyriform recess in E. persica also represented further differences. Our study contributes to the baseline understanding of squamate osteology and more specifically will facilitate further studies on lacertid morphological disparity.

Archaeometallurgy of Iron in South Central Iranian Plateau According to the Mineralogical Investigation on Iron Crucibles

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, August 7–August 11, 2011.

Geomorphic evidence for ancestral drainage patterns in the Zagros Simple Folded Zone and growth of the Iranian plateau

AbstractWe describe the geomorphology of a large (~10000 km2) internally draining region within the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt of Fars province, Iran. A series of wind gaps through fold crests and a continuous line of low-slope pixels in digital elevation models indicate the presence of an older, and now abandoned, through-going river system. We suggest, from the presence of the wind gaps, that the original through-going river system was abandoned as a direct result of fold growth. At present, through-going drainage in Fars is restricted to only two major rivers, the Kul and the Mand, which bound the margins of the internally drained region. The low gradients of the Kul and the Mand rivers are similar to those in topographic profiles drawn along the course of the abandoned drainage. The Mand and Kul rivers may be defeated in the future, causing an expansion of the internally drained region, and resulting in a profound change in the distribution of sediment and surface elevations within the Zagros. The internally draining part of the Zagros resembles the Central Iranian Plateau both in its geomorphology and in the apparently slow rates of deformation within it. We speculate that the development of internally drained basins and distribution of shortening within the range may be causally linked. The geomorphology that we describe might, therefore, record a stage in the southward expansion of the non-deforming and topographically high Central Iranian Plateau.

Holocene settlement shifts and palaeoenvironments on the Central Iranian Plateau: Investigating linked systems

For thousands of years, humans have inhabited locations that are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, earthquakes, and floods. In order to investigate the extent to which Holocene environmental changes may have impacted on cultural evolution, we present new geologic, geomorphic, and chronologic data from the Qazvin Plain in northwest Iran that provides a backdrop of natural environmental changes for the simultaneous cultural dynamics observed on the Central Iranian Plateau. Well-resolved archaeological data from the neighbouring settlements of Zagheh (7170—6300 yr BP), Ghabristan (6215—4950 yr BP) and Sagzabad (4050—2350 yr BP) indicate that Holocene occupation of the Hajiarab alluvial fan was interrupted by a 900 year settlement hiatus. Multiproxy climate data from nearby lakes in northwest Iran suggest a transition from arid early-Holocene conditions to more humid middle-Holocene conditions from c. 7550 to 6750 yr BP, coinciding with the settlement of Zagheh, and a peak in aridity at c. 4550 yr BP during the settlement hiatus. Palaeoseismic investigations indicate that large active fault systems in close proximity to the tell sites incurred a series of large (MW ~7.1) earthquakes with return periods of ~500—1000 years during human occupation of the tells. Mapping and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronology of the alluvial sequences reveals changes in depositional style from coarse-grained unconfined sheet flow deposits to proximal channel flow and distally prograding alluvial deposits sometime after c. 8830 yr BP, possibly reflecting an increase in moisture following the early-Holocene arid phase. The coincidence of major climate changes, earthquake activity, and varying sedimentation styles with changing patterns of human occupation on the Hajiarab fan indicate links between environmental and anthropogenic systems. However, temporal coincidence does not necessitate a fundamental causative dependency.

A Preliminary Report on a newly discovered Petroglyphic Complex near Jorbat, the Plain of Jajarm, Northeastern Iran

Petroglyphs are significant for the study of ancient cultures and economic activities as well as for their aesthetic qualities as an artistic expression. The newly discovered petroglyphic site of Jorbat to the north of the plain of Jajarm is one of the largest rock-art complexes of Iran. In terms of chronological depth, quantity, and quality of imagery, it is the richest complex in Northeastern Iran. Ranging from late Bronze Age to the ethnographic period, the rock art imagery of Jorbat has close parallels both in petroglyphic sites of the Central plateau of Iran and the Central Asian steppes. In this article, the most important images and compositions of the complex are briefly described. Using a comparative approach, an attempt is made to date and occasionally interpret images in their historical-geographical context.

Analogue and geophysical modelling of the Garmsar Salt Nappe, Iran: constraints on the evolution of the Alborz Mountains

SUMMARY The Alborz Mountains are forming a ∼100-km-wide east–west trending orogenic belt that stretches 2000 m across northern Iran south of the Caspian Sea. The Alborz Mountains consist of salt-bearing Neogene sediments, which are folded and cut by faults. Global positioning system studies indicate N–S directed shortening across the Alborz range, which is accommodated by right and left-lateral strike-slip along ESE–WNW and ENE–WSW trending faults, respectively. A 20 km × 10 km × 03 km sheet of salt extruded over the central plateau of Iran arising at the front of the advancing Alborz Mountains. The extruded salt forms the Eyvanekey plateau between Eyvanekey and Garmsar, which is now known, as the Garmsar Salt Nappe. To get more insights in the evolution of the Garmsar Salt Nappe, analogue modelling has been carried out using PDMS as salt analogue and sand as analogue for the brittle overburden. The structures produced consist of folds and thrusts, which were formed while the salt analogue PDMS was rising up. The modelling results are compatible with our interpretation that the deformation front of the Alborz Mountains advanced SSW when overriding a salt sequence in the Garmsar area. Depth estimations using the gravity and magnetic fields suggest that the salt in the Garmsar Salt Nappe extruded from a depth less than 2000 m.