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Title: DUNE SAND TRANSPORT AS INFLUENCED BY WIND DIRECTIONS, SPEED AND FREQUENCIES IN THE ORDOS PLATEAU, CHINA

Author
item LUI, LIANYOU - BEIJING NORMAL UNIVERSITY
item Skidmore, Edward
item HASI, E - BEIJING NORMAL UNIVERSITY
item Wagner, Larry
item Tatarko, John

Submitted to: Geomorphology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2005
Publication Date: 12/8/2004
Citation: Lui, L.Y., E.L. Skidmore, E. Hasi, L. Wagner, and J. Tatarko. 2005. dune sand transport as influenced by wind directions, speed and frequencies in the Ordos Plateau, China. Geomorphology. 67:283-297.

Interpretive Summary: This paper presented an attempt to use field observation data and meteorological data to determine dune sand transport potential and sand movement as influenced by the direction, speed and frequency of the sand transporting winds. Further work such as studies on dune surface properties, near-surface air-flow patterns and their interactions would be necessary in understanding the process of dune sand transport and the migration of sand dunes.

Technical Abstract: The Ordos Plateau in China is a region with extensive wind erosion, severe desertification and various aeolian sand hazards. In order to determine aeolian sand transport in this region, the relationship between the sand transport rate and wind speed at 10 min frequencies was established by field observation in both the Qubqi Sand Desert and the Mu Us Sandy Land. Threshold wind speeds (2 m above the ground) for mobile, semi-fixed and fixed dune surfaces were estimated by field observations. The sand transport rate increased with the increase of the bare land ratio and near-bed wind speed. High-resolution meteorological 10 min average wind velocity data at 10 m above the ground were converted into velocity values at a height of 2 m to calculate sand transport potential based on three specific parameters decisive for sand transport: wind speed, duration and direction. The quantity of aeolian sand transported wad calculated for various wind speed levels and directions, and the overall characteristics of sand transport on different dune surface types were determined by vector operation techniques. Sand transporting winds took place mainly in springtime. The prevailing wind directions were W. WNW and NW, with a frequency of more than 60% in total, and sand transport in these directions made up more than 70% of the total transport, corresponding to a general southeastward encroachment of aeolian sand in the study area. The relationship between wind frequency and speed can be expressed by a power function. High magnitude strong winds had a low frequency, by they played a dominant role in aeolian sand transport.