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Interrelations of vegetation growth and water scarcity in Iran revealed by satellite time series

Behling, Robert ; Roessner, Sigrid; Foerster, Saskia; Saemian, Peyman; Tourian, Mohammad J.; Portele, Tanja C. 1,2; Lorenz, Christof ORCID iD icon 1,2
1 Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung – Atmosphärische Umweltforschung (IMK-IFU), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
2 Zukunftscampus (CAMPUS), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

Iran has experienced a drastic increase in water scarcity in the last decades. The main driver has been the substantial unsustainable water consumption of the agricultural sector. This study quantifies the spatiotemporal dynamics of Iran’s hydrometeorological water availability, land cover, and vegetation growth and evaluates their interrelations with a special focus on agricultural vegetation developments. It analyzes globally available reanalysis climate data and satellite time series data and products, allowing a country-wide investigation of recent 20+ years at detailed spatial and temporal scales. The results reveal a wide-spread agricultural expansion (27,000 km$^2$) and a significant cultivation intensification (48,000 km$^2$). At the same time, we observe a substantial decline in total water storage that is not represented by a decrease of meteorological water input, confirming an unsustainable use of groundwater mainly for agricultural irrigation. As consequence of water scarcity, we identify agricultural areas with a loss or reduction of vegetation growth (10,000 km$^2$), especially in irrigated agricultural areas under (hyper-)arid conditions. ... mehr


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000153760
Veröffentlicht am 14.12.2022
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24712-6
Scopus
Zitationen: 7
Web of Science
Zitationen: 5
Dimensions
Zitationen: 8
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung – Atmosphärische Umweltforschung (IMK-IFU)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsjahr 2022
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 2045-2322
KITopen-ID: 1000153760
HGF-Programm 12.11.33 (POF IV, LK 01) Regional Climate and Hydrological Cycle
Erschienen in Scientific Reports
Verlag Nature Research
Band 12
Seiten Art.-Nr.: 20784
Vorab online veröffentlicht am 01.12.2022
Schlagwörter Environmental impact, Sustainability
Nachgewiesen in Web of Science
Dimensions
Scopus
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