نوع مقاله : مقاله علمی پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه آموزش جغرافیا، دانشگاه فرهنگیان، صندوق پستی889-14665 تهران
2 گروه آموزش جغرافیا، دانشگاه فرهنگیان، صندوق پستی889-14665 تهران، ایران
3 گروه سنجش از دور، دانشکده علوم انسانی ، دانشگاه حکیم سبزواری، سبزوار، ایران،
چکیده
کلیدواژه‌ها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
this research Inspired by the concept of "biodiversity hotspots," this study aims to identify and prioritize "geodiversity hotspots" in the Joghatay Heights (western Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran), an area characterized by ophiolitic nature and complex geological history.
Methods: The research methodology consists of three stages: (1) calculation of the Geodiversity Index (GI) by integrating four components—geology, geomorphology, soil, and hydrology—within a 400-hectare hexagonal grid; (2) calculation of the Threat Index (TI) based on protection level, land degradation degree, and land use type; and (3) combination of these two indices through multiplication to generate the Sensitivity Index (SI) and identify hotspots. To optimize computations, the GI grid was converted into a continuous raster surface using Ordinary Kriging interpolation with a spherical model (range = 1200 m), at a pixel size of 100 × 100 meters, to ensure alignment with the 1:25,000 base map scale and the minimum geological feature size .
Results: Results indicated that the geological component contributes the most to the region's diversity, with the Joghatay Heights serving as the core of geodiversity. Hotspots are predominantly concentrated in the eastern half and adjacent to urban centers (Sabzevar, Joghatay, Neqab, Davarzan, Soltanabad, and Nodeh-e Enqelab), where the highest geological diversity coincides with the greatest degree of anthropogenic threats (particularly mining, agricultural expansion, and settlement growth). Approximately 9.3% of the area exhibits very high geodiversity and 11.5% shows high geodiversity, mainly corresponding to highlands and areas with active faults.
Conclusions: Findings reveal that the most geodiverse regions (such as active chromite mines) are also among the most threatened, underscoring the urgent need for conservation intervention. Establishing a western Khorasan Geopark centered on the Joghatay Heights is recommended as a strategy for sustainable protection of this valuable heritage.
کلیدواژه‌ها [English]
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