Please wait a minute...
img

Wechat

Adv search
JOURNAL OF DESERT RESEARCH  2013, Vol. 33 Issue (6): 1615-1621    DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2013.00235
Desert and Desertification     
Grain Size and Surface Processes of the Pyramid Dune in the Mogao Grottoes of China
ZHANG Wei-min
Dunhuang Gobi Desert Research Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Download:  PDF (3379KB) 
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
Abstract  

The pyramid dune at the top of the Mogao Grottoes is composed of fine sands with a diameter between 2.44 Φ and 2.94 Φ and a standard deviation in 0.24-0.65. The skewness varying between 0.03 and 0.31 with a mean value of 0.11 indicates that the sands belonging positive skews. The kurtosis is between 0.78 and 1.72 with a mean value of 1.28 ranging from broad to narrow scare. The pattern of grain size characteristic of the main arm (NWW-ESE direction) is similar to that of the transverse dune. Erosion is occurred at the toe and deposition around the dune top. Abundant fine blown sand is moved toward the crest of main arms by the frequent local wind with low speed, leading to homegeny grain size distributions at the toe and the top. The secondary arm (SW direction) is controlled by stronger NW wind regime and its grain size distribution pattern is similar to longitudinal dune. The whole slope, especially the dune top, suffers erosion and the diameter of sand increases from the toe to the top.

Key words:  Mogao Grottoes      pyramid dune      main arm      secondary arm      grain size      surface process     
Received:  19 November 2012      Published:  06 January 2013
ZTFLH:  P931.3  
Articles by authors
ZHANG Wei-min

Cite this article: 

ZHANG Wei-min. Grain Size and Surface Processes of the Pyramid Dune in the Mogao Grottoes of China. JOURNAL OF DESERT RESEARCH, 2013, 33(6): 1615-1621.

URL: 

http://www.desert.ac.cn/EN/10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2013.00235     OR     http://www.desert.ac.cn/EN/Y2013/V33/I6/1615

[1]Vincent P J.Particle size variation over a transverse dune in the Nefud as Sirr,central Saudi Arabia[J].Journal of Arid Environments,1984,7(4):329-336.



[2]陈渭南,雷加强.塔克拉玛干沙漠新月形沙丘不同部位的粒度特征[J].干旱区资源与环境,1992,6(2):101-109.



[3]哈斯,庄燕美,王蕾,等.毛乌素沙地南缘横向沙丘粒度分布及其对风向变化的响应[J].地理科学进展,2006,25(6):42-50.



[4]张春来,郭青振,邹学勇,等.新月形沙丘迎风坡形态及沉积物对表面气流的响应[J].中国沙漠,1999,19(4):359-363.



[5]董玉祥,马骏,黄德全.福建长乐海岸横向前丘表面粒度分异研究[J].沉积学报,2008,26(5):813-819.



[6]Folk R L.Longitudinal dunes of the northwestern edge of the Simpson Desert,Northern territory,Australia,1.Geomorphology and grain size relationships[J].Sedimentology,1971,16(1/2):5-54.



[7]Livingstone I,Warren A.Aeolian Geomorphology-An Introduction[M].London:Addison  Wesly Longman Limited,1996:211.



[8]李志忠,关有志,孙忠,等.塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地纵向沙垄的粒度分布特征[J].干旱区研究,1996,13(2):37-43.



[9]李振山,陈广庭,冯起,等.塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地纵向沙垄表面沙物质粒度特征[J].干旱区资源与环境,1998,12(1):21-28.



[10]哈斯.腾格里沙漠东南缘格状沙丘粒度特征与成因探讨[J].地理研究,1998,17(2):178-185.



[11]Lancaster N.Geomorphology of Desert Dunes[M].London: Routaledge,1995:526.



[12]Lancaster N.The Namib Sand Sea[M].Netherland: Balkema,1989:46-74.



[13]何清,杨兴华,霍文,等.库姆塔格沙漠粒度分布特征及环境意义[J].中国沙漠,2009,29(1):18-22.



[14]钱广强,董治宝,罗万银,等.巴丹吉林沙漠地表沉积物粒度特征及区域差[J].中国沙漠,2011,31(6):1357-1364.



[15]Watson A.Grain-size variations on a longitudinal dune and a barchan dune [J].Sedimentary Geology,1986,46(1):49-66.



[16]Thomas D S G.Analysis of linear dune sediment-form relationships in the Kalahari dune desert[J].Earth Surface Processes and Landforms,1988,13(6):545-553.



[17]Sneh A,Weissbrod T.Size-frequency distribution on longitudinal dune ripple flank sands compared to that of slipface sands of various dune types[J].Sedimentology,1983,30(5):717-726.



[18]Livingstone I.Temporal trends in grain-size measures on a linear sand dune[J].Sedimentology,1989,36:1017-1022.



[19]Fryberger S G.Dune forms and wind regime [M]//Makee E D.A Study of Global Sand Seas.Washington,USA:United States Geological Survey and United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration,1979:137-169.



[20]Wang T,Zhang W M,Dong Z B,et al.The dynamic characteristics and migration of a pyramid dune[J].Sedimentology,2005,52(2):429-440.



[21]Folk R L,Ward W C.Brazos River bar:a study in the significance of grain size parameters[J].Journal of Sedimentary Petrology,1957,27(1):3-26.



[22]Lancaster N.Star dunes[J].Progress in Physical Geography,1989,13(1):67-91.



[23]Pye K,Tsoar H.Eolian Sand Deposits[M].London:Unwin Hyman,1990:152-253.



[24]Burkinshaw J R,Rust I C.Aeolian dynamics on the windward slope of a reversing transverse dune Alexandria coastal dunefield,South Africa[M]//Pye K.The Dynamics and Environmental Contest of Aeolian Sedimentary Systems.London,UK:Geological Society of London,1993:13-21.

No Suggested Reading articles found!