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International Journal of Marine Science 2013, Vol.3, No.22, 173-177
http://ijms.sophiapublisher.com
176
of the commercial ports, marinas and coastal sediment
erosion processes have exacerbated the loss of large
areas of sand dunes. Amir Abad multipurpose Port
is a clear example of an area which is affected
simultaneously both environmentally and by the
human factors which have caused the increase in the
vulnerability of coastal erosion (Khoshravan and
Rouhanizadeh, 2012). Results from field observations
and aerial images showed that the southern coasts of
the Caspian Sea in terms of having sand dunes and the
damage caused by natural and human factors have
different eligibility. This changed the degree of
vulnerability of the beach in front of the grinding
forces. Small amount of sand dunes on the southern
coasts of the Caspian Sea indicates the focus and
structure of the side overlooking the coast of Mazandaran
and Gilan In fact in the study area, the suitability of
formation of sand dunes is proved just in these coastal
areas, which is to say, the dominant wind and dense
vegetation have provided the conditions of formation
of dunes (Khoshravan, 2000)
But other coastal regions due to the low width of the
berms, and the coarse or very fine sediments and
dense vegetation are not suitable for sand dune
creation (Khoshravan, 2000). So the condition for the
formation of sand dunes is provided only "in some
areas of the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea. While
changing the physical nature of the prevailing winds
(speed and direction) with the density of vegetation in
the areas of sand dunes caused different morphodynamic
shapes of sand dunes. Longitudinal dunes with tall
stature and with a maximum height of 10 meters and
width are 100 meters and are located in the central
province of Gilan and Mazandaran. In the east
regions of central Mazandaran in Miankaleh region,
crescent-shaped sand dunes have been developed with
a width of more than 1,000 meters (Figure 1). So
changing environmental conditions in the South
Caspian region caused structural diversity of sand
dunes with different morphological forms. From the
overall 156 km of sand dunes along the coastline of
the Caspian Sea, 98 km is in Mazandaran province
and 56 km is in the province of Gilan, which the
equivalent figure is 18 percent of the entire sand dunes
of southern coasts of the Caspian Sea (Table 2). And
the other region lacks any sand dune. Sand dunes in
the study area were classified due to variety of human
manipulation to healthy 12.1%, Semi-healthy, to
discontinuity 3.4% rate, tabulated 9% and the region
without any sand dunes 75.4 percent (Table 1). This
indicates that the risk of the vulnerability of the
southern Caspian coastal erosion in many areas is very
high. Results of the comparison of aerial photos
during 1983 to 2004 years represent the loss of large
areas of sand dunes in the eastern and western part of
Babolsar beach. Summarized results of the grading
system of sand dune erosion vulnerability of the
southern coast of the Caspian Sea shows that the most
sensitive place to risk and erosion hazards is located in
west coasts of Mazandaran, Gilan, and Golestan
provinces. It means that in this region large areas of
coastal dunes are destroyed. However, in some
protected areas such as Miankaleh Beach, sand dunes
are pristine and in untouched form. So focus on
programs to protect and prevent the destruction of
sand dunes in the current circumstances is very crucial.
Based on evaluation of existing conditions in the area
of sand dunes and coastal familiarity with the valuable
experience of other countries, especially the most
appropriate way to protect the coastal hills is putting
them under the protection of the stockade and prevents
the destruction of natural vegetation on them.
4 Conclusion
Interpretation of the results of this study revealed that
the vulnerability of coastal erosion sand dunes in the
south-central part of the Caspian Sea region is very
high due to several constructions and land usages. Due
to lack of sand dunes conditions, west of Mazandaran
and Gilan and Coastal areas overlooking Gomishan,
are affected by environmental forces and thus in these
areas vulnerability to erosion is high. In the study the
least vulnerable area to erosion is designated as
Miankaleh territory. In total, more than 75 percent of
the coastal regions in the study area lack natural
protection associated with sand dunes and If not more
attention to other areas of sand dunes over the coming
years they will be destroyed completely.
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