Journal of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science

Analyzing the effects of the drying up of Lake Urmia and climate change on the sustainability of human settlements from the perspective of land planning

https://doi.org/10.22034/jmas.2026.565874.1257
Volume 8, Issue 1 - Serial Number 23
July 2025
Pages 14-28
Journal of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Alireza Jamshidi 1
Sahand Azar 2

1 Department of Geography, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia City, Iran

2 Department of Geography, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Abstract
The drying up of Lake Urmia, one of Iran's most severe environmental disasters, has had profound consequences for the sustainability of human settlements in the region, particularly from a land use planning perspective. This phenomenon, intensified by climate change and the mismanagement of water resources, has led to increased dust storms, the salinization of agricultural lands, and a sharp decline in available water. Consequently, local livelihoods have been jeopardized, prompting widespread migration and the disruption of the region's social and economic structures. From a land use planning standpoint, this crisis reveals a fundamental imbalance between the region's biological capacity and human activities. This underscores the urgent need for a critical reassessment of development models, resource management, and spatial planning to ensure the long-term sustainability of settlements and to prevent similar crises in the future. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of the desiccation of Lake Urmia and climate change on the sustainability of human settlements through the lens of land use planning. This research is applied-theoretical in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical in its methodology. The required data were collected through library research. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) was employed to identify and prioritize multiple criteria affecting settlement sustainability. These criteria encompass environmental dimensions (e.g., increased dust and soil salinization), economic factors (e.g., loss of agricultural and tourism-related jobs), social aspects (e.g., migration and shifts in population structure), and physical parameters (e.g., land use change and land subsidence). The results highlight the critical and multifaceted impacts of this phenomenon on various aspects of life in the region. This further emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive and integrated land use planning to address future challenges and ensure the resilience of human communities. This study can assist policymakers and planners in making informed decisions to manage similar crises and progress toward sustainable development.

Keywords

Drying of Lake Urmia
Climate Change
Sustainability
Human Settlements
Land Use Planning
Subjects

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