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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 899-908.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2017.00082

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Aeolian-Fluvial Interaction Characteristics and Its Effect on Parabolic Dunes in the Southern Fringe of Hobq Desert

Guan Chao, Hasi Eerdun, Zhou Yanguang, Qi Xingfen, Li Hongyue   

  1. School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2017-09-01 Revised:2017-11-08 Online:2018-09-20 Published:2018-11-03

Abstract: By analyzing the meteorological and hydrological data, high-resolution remote-sensing images, and field survey, we discussed the regional aeolian-fluvial interaction characteristics and its effect on parabolic dunes in the southern fringe of Hobq Desert, China. The results showed that from 1971 to 2014, the interaction between fluvial and aeolian processes in the study area gradually changed from "aeolian-fluvial balance" to "fully fluvial dominant". There were many floods occurred in the Baerdong River with high sediment transport during this period, which resulted in re-channelization. The river encroached into and cut the riverine transverse dune fields on the western bank. Consequently, several residual dunes remained on the east bank and became incipient sand source of parabolic dunes. The sediment accumulated on the riverbed provided external sand source for riverine parabolic dunes on the eastern bank through gullies under northwest wind erosion. Because of continuous dropping of resultant drift potential in the study area from 1970 to 2014, the sand sediment accumulated in the riverbed decreased gradually. In the stage of "fully fluvial dominant", the transportation of sand sediment in the riverbed by floods and the erosion of riverside terrace slope by rainfall may have enhanced "capture" effect on the west bank dunes. And then floods gradually blocked the supply of external sand source. The limited sand source is the basic condition for the development of barchans. With the weakening of aeolian erosion and the increasing of precipitation in the study area, the barchans gradually transformed into parabolic dunes under the "horn-anchoring" mechanism by vegetation. Parabolic dunes in the study area are the result of specific local factors which are the product of the local climatic regime. Therefore, The aeolian-fluvial interaction characteristics has a great influence on the formation and development of parabolic dunes next to the Baerdong River, which is an important factor to study the formation and evolution of sandy landforms and rivers.

Key words: aeolian-fluvial interaction, parabolic dune, developmental mode, Hobq Desert

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