Aeolian sand dunes are continuously being discovered in inner dry lands and coastal areas, most of which have been formed over the Last Glacial Maximum. Presently, due to some natural and anthropogenic implications on earth, newly-born sand dunes are quickly emerging. Lake Urmia, the world’s second largest permanent hypersaline lake, has started shrinking, vast lands comprising sand dunes over the western shore of the lake have appeared and one question has been playing on the minds of nearby dwellers: where are these sand dunes coming from, What there was not 15 years ago!! In the present study, the determination of the source of the Lake Urmia sand dunes in terms of the quantifying relative contribution of each upstream geomorphological/lithological unit has been performed using geochemical fingerprinting techniques. The findings demonstrate that the alluvial and the fluvial sediments of the western upstream catchment have been transported by water erosion and they accumulated in the lower reaches of the Kahriz River. Wind erosion, as a secondary agent, have carried the aeolian sand-sized sediments to the sand dune area. Hence, the Lake Urmia sand dunes have been originating from simultaneous and joint actions of alluvial, fluvial and aeolian processes.

Our ability to forecast future Land use/cover changes (LUCC) is extremely limited due to lack of understanding of how rapid and drastic changes like socio-economic shocks and disturbances (e.g., policy changes and economic crises) affect land use/cover. Energy policies changing in Iran have been implemented since 2010. In this study, we explored whether changes in energy policies affect the sustainability of forest cover and LUCC. Results showed that in the time periods of before and after implementation of the policies, 2,841 and 3,155 ha of forests converted to other land covers, respectively. It was also revealed that forest and rangelands degradation and their conversion to croplands and built-up areas have had the most contribution to increasing area of these land covers. Calculation annual rate of deforestation showed an increase in deforestation activities after the plan (−0.40% versus −0.53%). On the other hand, the population growth in the first period was 10,074 people, which was higher than the population increase in the second period (9,803 people). Therefore, it can be argued that the effect of the energy policies is likely to be greater than the increase in population and it appears to be able to cause a transition of land systems.