ARS | Publication request: Potential for new dust emissions from the Southern Kalahari

Submitted to: International Conference on Aeolian Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 20, 2010
Publication Date: July 9, 2010
Citation: D'Odorico, P., Bhattachan, A., Zobeck, T.M. 2010. Potential for new dust emissions from the Southern Kalahari[sbstract]. International Conference on Aeolian Research. July 5-9, 2010, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina. p. 34.

Technical Abstract: One of the largest continuous sand sheets on Earth, the Kalahari´s aeolian deposits are for most part stabilized by savanna vegetation. The loss of plant cover resulting from elevated grazing pressure and climate change is leading to the mobilization of the southern and southwestern dunes. We investigate whether this process has the potential to actívate major dust sources in the region. To this end, we use tests with dust impact generator on soil samples from bare and vegetated duens in the southern Kalahari and compare the results with those from the largest pans in the Southen Africa. It is found that dune mobilization can activate important (though relatively short lived) dust emissions comparable to those from major documented dust sources in the region.