Journal of Geography and Regional Development
Year:2009 | Volume:- | Issue:11|Papers Count:13

Agricultural drought in Iran is considered as a natural disaster especially for the farmers. Although nobody can stop drought, but if its nature and its characteristics are studied, it can be predicted and the results can be reduced. This article studies drought in the province of Sistaan and Balouchestaan and the drought predictability in the province has been done base on a model that is made according to SPI indicator, percent indicator of normal and Markov chain. The results of the study show that this region is sensitive to average and short term drought and most of the drought that have happened in the area have not been harsh ones; and this phenomenon can mostly happen in the central areas of the province.

Women who are in charge of their families are one of those vulnerable classes of the society. Economical and financial situation of these women is one of the most important factors of their vulnerability. This article studies the economical and financial situation of these women. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical and the sample size includes 179 rural women who are in charge of their families in Mashhad Gholi rural system in North-West Mashhad. The results of the research show that the income of these women is very low, due to few people who are working in each family and low wages they receive.

The degree of existing different and various natural, economic, social and political factors either have caused regional inequalities or have increased such inequalities.In 2006, out of 26 cities of province of Hamadan, the city of Hamadan covered 49 percent of urban population and smaller cities and towns (those with population below 25 thousands people) covered 15 percent of urban population. The province of Hamadan also has two major areas in north and south of the province that covers more than 77 percent of urban population and the other 22 percent are in only 13 cities of the province. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical and studies the role of middle city of Hamadan in regional development. The research uses quantitative methods and models, considering population variables, sanitation, cultural and educational facilities. The results of the study show that this city has an important role in spatial development; and most of the service and economical potential of the province are concentrated in this city. The most important reason for this, is the less number of middle cities and their improper situation.

Despite all attractions of social participation in most parts of the rural development, due to the lack of practical approaches, it has just remained an advertising slogan. One of the necessities of rural development is the execution of plans which enjoy maximum social acceptance. One of these plans is locating and equipping high-order service settlements. Using an operative process including environmental and social analysis, the writer has first identified the suitable settlements in terms of environmental statuses. Then, by means of cooperative evaluation technique, fifty four high-order settlements were selected from among five cities and three hundred thirty nine villages with a population more than twenty families. In the end, based on both law and social acceptance, the writer, has determined the centrality level of those fifty four settlements as follows: two strong systems including: Mshhad and Mashhad Gholi. Five weak systems, including: Torghabeh, Shandiz, Razaviye and Toos. Five strong collections, including: seventeen medium and weak collection, twelve strong areas and fourteen weak areas.

This article presents a comparative study of marginalization in the cities of Sabzevar, Neishabour, Torbat Heidariye and Gonaabaad. It also presents the history of marginalization and marginal settlement in the world, related theories and models. The article also talks about the international experiences about marginalization and marginal settlement. The writers of the article have first identified 23 marginal areas in the above mentioned cities, and then they have completed the information through interviews and questionnaire; they were then analyzed using the statistical models. Based on this research, the growth of urban population for a decade (from 1996 to 2006) has been 2.28 percent per year. The ratio of marginal settlers to total population is 15 percent. In the city of Sabzevaar it is 10.7 percent, for neishabour 11.9 percent, for Torbat Heidariye 16.5 percent and Gonaabaad 21 percent. In their comparative study of these areas, the writers then use Cluster Model and Dendogram, and rank these areas.

Since old structures of cities display culture, ideology and architecture of these cities, they are really precious for us. Industrial revolution made the growth of the cities faster and the border of the cities extended to the neighboring lands. Traditional areas in big cities of Iran and developing countries are facing an imbalanced situation. Presenting and analysis of new urbanism to improve traditional region of Sorkhaab in Tabriz and the least intervention in its structure is the goal of the article. The writers of this article have tried to evaluate the theory of “using new urbanism to improve traditional region of Sorkhaab.”

Paying attention to centralization in development is very essential nowadays. Considering the middle-cities, this centralization becomes very important. The writers of this article have studied the middle-city of Shahreza. The research method used in this research is“descriptive-analytical.” The results of the research show that centralization of population and paying attention to the prime city in the province has reduced. Economic models show that Shahreza has an important role in industries and providing services. Therefore, the city of Shahreza can have an important role and impact in the settlement of the southern part of Isfahan province.

After the construction of Torogh Dam in 1984, there was a slump and a high reduction in underground water level in the upper area of Torogh River’s detrital fan. This case is very well observable in the hydrograph of wells in the areas of Khaaje Abaasalt, Ghal’e Sakhtemaan and Mazra’eye Nemooneh. The level of water in these wells has reduced 45, 22 and 21meters respectively in a period of twenty years. Since Torogh’s detrital fan has coarse fragments deposits, it has a high permeability and like other detrital fans, the size of its deposits has reduced from top to the bottom, as a result, its permeability has reduced as well. The permeability of the fragments is ranging from 7.2*10-2 in the top part to 2*10-2 meter second in the base. The reduction of water level has also changed the amount of salts in the water.

The most common weathering features on granite landforms are cavernous weathering that are known as tafone. Tafoni are deep cavities which are produced by a variety of different weathering mechanisms. This study investigates the formation of tafoni in the granitic rocks of South Mashhad and Shemshak formation in semi-arid climatic conditions. Based on petrographical studies, this granite consists of crystal quartz, k-spar, plagioclase and mica. In the study area, tafoni formed by both physical and chemical weathering processes and are mainly controlled by mineralogical and structural characteristics of the rocks and variations in the local climate and microclimate within the caves. Due to granular fabric of these rocks, one of the most important processes in the formation of these features is granular disintegration of unstable minerals such as feldspar and mica. The in situ weathering soil (under lichens) from granite rocks of Southern Mashhad was studied by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and consists of quartz, orthoclase, albite, calcite and clay minerals (kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite). Joints, pegmatite veins, xenoliths, exfoliation, core softening and case hardening of rocks outcrops are other important factors that control the tafoni initiation and growth. Therefore, the writers suggest the lithology, structure of the rock and environmental effects are the most important control factors of tafoni occurrence in this region. In Shemshak formation, dissolution of calcareous cement and salt weathering are the most roles of tafoni formation in this area.