In this study, the soil erosion regulation ecosystem services of the CORINE land use/ land cover types along with soil intrinsic features and geomorphological factors were examined by using the soil erosion data of 327 catchments in Poland, with a mean area of 510 ± 330 km2, applying a multivariate regression modeling approach. The results showed that soil erosion is accelerated by the discontinuous urban fabric (r = 0.224, p ≤ 0.01), by construction sites (r = 0.141, p ≤ 0.05), non-irrigated arable land (r = 0.237, p ≤ 0.01), and is mitigated by coniferous forest (r = −0.322, p ≤ 0.01), the clay ratio (r = −0.652, p ≤ 0.01), and the organic content of the soil (r = −0.622, p ≤ 0.01). The models also indicated that there is a strong relationship between soil erosion and the percentage of land use/land cover types (r2 = [0.62, 0.82, 0.83, 0.74]), i.e., mixed forest, non-irrigated arable land, fruit trees and berry plantations, broad-leaf forest, sport and leisure facilities, construction sites, and mineral extraction sites. The findings show that the soil erosion regulation ecosystem service is sensitive to broadleaf forests, rainfed agriculture, soil water content, terrain slope, drainage network density, annual precipitation, the clay ratio, the soil carbon content, and the degree of sensitivity increases from the broadleaf forest to the soil carbon content.
Most studies that address the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and soil erosion focus on the effects of soil erosion on socio-economic conditions at different levels, from global to smallholder. Few, if any, efforts are made to address the influence of socio-economic variables on the soil erosion rate as an indicator of landscape degradation. The present study was carried out using spatial data from 402 catchments that cover Poland, to find out how socio-economic variables, which include area-weighted average income per capita (PLN km−2), area-weighted average gross domestic product (PLN km−2), population density (person km−2), and human development index can drive the soil erosion rate (kg ha−1 yr−1), along with annual precipitation, soil and geomorphological variables that include soil organic carbon content, soil water content, clay ratio, stream gradient, and terrain slope. The results showed that the soil erosion rate is indirectly driven by the socio-economic variables in the study catchments, as it is alleviated by increasing population density, the area-weighted average gross domestic product, and the human development index. Furthermore, analyzing the incremental relationship between soil erosion rate and the area-weighted average of socio-economic variables revealed that no uniform change can be observed in the relationship between the area-weighted average socio-economic variables and soil erosion in the study catchments.
This study examines the effects of the change in the shape of landscape patches, known as landscape structure, on ecological susceptibility, which is defined using the object-oriented method. The aim is to determine whether ecological susceptibility is influenced by the shape of the landscape patches in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea. The multivariate linear regression approach is applied to discover the extent to which the mean, median, and weighted average of the landscape structure metrics can explain the total variations of the ecological susceptibility. To determine the optimal models, an intermodel comparison is conducted using the Akaike information criterion. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were performed to determine how sensitive ecological susceptibility is to changes in the variables of the models and how they behave under varying conditions. The models (0.64≥r2≥0.27, p ≤ 0.05) indicate that the landscape structure metrics can be applied to predict ecological susceptibility. Examining the mean, median, and weighted average of the landscape metrics in estimating ecological susceptibility also reveals that the models made by the mean and median values have less uncertainty than those developed by the weighted average. The results show that the regularity or irregularity in the shape of the landscape patches and the degree of contiguity of the land use/land cover patches can significantly affect ecological susceptibility. Closed deciduous broad-leaf forest patches, closed mixed forest patches, and open mixed forest patches can be considered crucial land use/land covers to estimate ecological susceptibility.
Lead pollution is one of the negative impacts of roads on environment, which can be assessed using environmental impact assessment. As a study case, Tehran- Karaj highway was selected for studying environmental lead pollution in pine tree needles (plants indicators). Samples were collected from seven stations and five distances (0, 10, 20, 50, 100 meter). The results showed that transport has a direct effect on lead pollution in trees. The differences in lead concentrations were significant for both stations and distances. The average lead concentration was 11.34 mg/Kg in the station close to Tehran, and 3.8 mg/Kg in the closest station to Karaj. This is because heavier transfer and higher density of cars in Tehran compared to Karaj. The average Pb concentrations in the stations besides the highway was 8.77 mg/Kg and decreased to 6.57 mg/kg in stations located in 100 meter away from the highway. While the average Pb concentration in station E was 1.53 mg/Kg, it was decreased constantly in all distances, due to tree coverage. A conclusion, the analytical method of roads environmental impact assessment can be used effectively for monitoring Pb pollution. The pollution can be decreased by using pine trees and emphasis on using windbreakers.
There are different pollution sources, which affect soil including transportation, especially in highways. These effects can be assessed by Environmental Impact Assessment. In this study, seven sampling stations were selected in different distances (0, 10, 20, 50, 100 meter) along Tehran- Karaj highway. Samples were collected and their concentrations of Pb were measured using a FAAS after dry acid digestion. It was observed that the highway had a negative impact on the peripheral soil. These impacts were higher in Tehran with average lead concentrations, and declined by moving toward Karaj. Moreover, the average concentration of lead in soil significantly decreased by increasing distance from the roadside. Highest lead concentration was in station (E) in the middle of the road with an average of 160.50 mg/kg. The highest average concentrations were observed in soils of the roadside with an average of 115.25 mg/kg. The highest concentration was also observed in station (B) and in the roadside, with a concentration of 302 mg/kg, which was above the international allowable limits. Tehran- Karaj highway is in the list of the most polluted roads in the world and it must be concerned for its lead pollution, especially in the roadside. Essential steps for controlling the negative impacts must be taken including the expansion of green-space along the highway.
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