Environmental Changes in Lakes of Iran in Anthropocene epoch (Case study: Gavkhuni Swamp)

The lakes and swaps are rich ecosystems to balance the climate of the environment. In case of any changein the flow of the up and downstream parts, they are affected and suffer from anomalies and ultimatelycause environmental hazards in various economic, social, political, environmental, and even culturalsectors. Gavkhuni swamp is an international wetland where is Located in the central basin as a sub-basinand was registered globally in the Ramsar Convention in ۱۹۶۹ (Hajian, ۲۰۱۳). Environmental changes inIranian lakes have been studied by researchers using different proxies. In this regard, Van Zeist may be oneof the first researchers in this field, who started working on Zaribar Lake in western Iran based onpalynology. Then other lakes and swamps such as Urmia, Neor, Gahar, Gavkhuni, Hamoon, andJazmourian (Van Zeist et al., ۱۹۶۳, ۱۹۷۷, ۱۹۹۱, Steven et al., ۲۰۰۱. Djamali et al., ۲۰۰۸; Azizi et al.,۲۰۱۳,Akbari et al., ۲۰۱۵, ۲۰۱۹, Sharifi et al., ۲۰۱۵, Obert Et al., ۲۰۱۷, Ramesht, ۱۹۹۸, Atai and Orujalian,۱۳۹۶, Hamzeh et al., ۲۰۱۶). This study aims to emphasize the anthropogenic environmental effects in lakeenvironments during Anthropocene (new-human) in Iran, especially in Gavkhuni wetland, and tointroduce the possible strategies for water management related to droughts caused by climate change andman-made across the Anthropocene epoch. Methods and Materials: This research is based on a descriptiveanalysis method by using spectral composite indices to detect the humidity changes in Gavkhuni Lake.Then the useful approaches for water management are discussed by reviewing the references. The dataused in this study include the time series obtained from visible bands, infrared and short wavelengths ofLandsat ۵ and ۸ images in the period ۲۰۲۰-۱۹۸۵. Results and Discussions: This study showed that droughtand rising surface temperatures in lake environments such as Gavkhuni in recent decades indicatesignificant anthropogenic effects in these environments. According to existing evidence and experiment ofpeople who lived there, we can conclude that this kind of drought is due to anthropogenic effects andseems as a result of destroying the regional water management based on indigenous knowledge. Theprevious study by comparison of the long, current, and future drought index in Neor Lake shows that thelonger and more intensive dry periods occurred today compared with the past, but in the future, the warmseason of the year decreases with longer periods and the dramatic rise in dry periods. In addition based onthe climatic model’s outputs, it is expected that the future level of the lake will continue to decrease more.This is a great threat for mountainous regions and wetlands such as Lake Neor due to the decrease of snowand ice reserves in the highlands, considering the scenarios of climate models. In addition, it can considera threat to humans in the Anthropocene epoch and Macro-level policies need to be addressed. Theapplicable approach for this threat discussed is based on indigenous knowledge of regional watermanagement. We should refer to historically-dependent community roles that establish the local contractfor distributing water with social responsibility. The aim of government can be useful for increasingadaptive capacity in the face of climate change-induced drought.

Keywords:

Anthropogenic drought , Climate Change , Water Management , Lakes , Iran