List of Articles GIS system

• Open Access Article
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  1 - Determination of Ecoregions of Iran’s Southern Coasts as a Basis to Determine Coastal-Marine Protected Areas Using GIS System
  Bahareh Samadi Kuchaksaraei Seyed Mohammadreza Fatemi Afshin Danehkar Seyed Ali Jozi Ehsan Ramezani Fard
  10.22034/jest.2020.27796.3696
  Background and Objective: In recent years, there is an increasing attention to homogenous representative areas to develop a network of coastal-marine protected areas. One of the current common systems is an ecoregion approach. The aim of this study was to determine ecor More

  Background and Objective: In recent years, there is an increasing attention to homogenous representative areas to develop a network of coastal-marine protected areas. One of the current common systems is an ecoregion approach. The aim of this study was to determine ecoregions of southern coasts of Iran as a basis and prerequisite to develop coastal-marine protected areas according to global new procedures. Materials and methods: A survey to recognize the ecoregions of southern coastlines of Iran in Persian Gulf, strait of Hormoz and Oman Sea was done according to international valid and common criteria. Criteria used in this study were determined in the field of biogeography according to the related literatures in this field, and three criteria of surface sea temperature, depth and surface currents were set as the base criteria. The maps of determined criteria were overlapped with the help of ArcGIS. After that, identified areas were controlled with country divisions, and then final boundaries and limitations of southern coast’s ecoregions were separated. Results: Results showed that, in Iran’s southern coast, five ecoregions can be recognized. Discussion: This classification, which is the first one in Iran, can be a basis and a step to select coastal-marine protected areas and a model for ecological surveys. Manuscript profile
• Open Access Article
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  2 - Concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd and their distribution in the urban environment of Kerman, Iran
  Mohammad Ali Hamzeh Mohammad Mirzaee Hossein Mozaffari
  This study investigated the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in the urban areas of the city of Kerman to find out whether the measured concentrations of heavy metals in soil, rocks, surface and ground waters and sediments can be related to anthropogenic contamination More

  This study investigated the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in the urban areas of the city of Kerman to find out whether the measured concentrations of heavy metals in soil, rocks, surface and ground waters and sediments can be related to anthropogenic contamination or natural weathering of rocks. Heavy metal concentrations in these samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. These concentrations were compared with environmental investigation limits.  The fresh rocks (limestone) contain relatively low concentrations of heavy metals as shown by background values. This study revealed that soil of Kerman is anomalously rich in some heavy metals. The accumulation of these contaminants is likely to accelerate as a consequence of rapid traffic as well as economic and industrial growth in the urban environment of the city. The characteristics of environmental geochemistry cycle are related to the pH range of rainwater (pH=6.8), high lead and copper values in dust particles (Pb>70 ppm and Cu>80 ppm), few anomalous values of lead in surface and ground water (0.01-0.12 ppm in surface water and 0.01-0.13 ppm in ground water), and very high values of lead (>10000 ppm) in some soil and sediment samples. The most polluted and dangerous cycles are caused by Sarasiab polluted creek (Pb and Zn values >10000 ppm) after Kerman garrison and soils close to battery, oil-change, and automobile-painting shops ( Pb>5000 ppm). However, Cd concentration was not a source of pollution in this region. Other pollution sources may be leachates, sewages, and landfills. Soil, sediment, and some of water samples had concentrations of metals (Pb>Cu>Zn>Cd) and the concentrations mostly exceeded the maximum permissible limit announced by the US EPA.  A GIS system was developed for Kerman urban environment quality evaluation so that health risk management practices could be planned.     Manuscript profile