Geomorphological Evolution Revealed by Aeolian Sedimentary Structure in Badain Jaran Desert on Alxa Plateau, Northwest China

The Badain Jaran Desert,located in the Alxa Plateau,Northwest China,features mega-dunes and a unique dune-lake alternation landscape.This paper presented the aeolian sediment structures of three representative dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert using ground-penetrating radar (GPR).We processed and analyzed the GPR data and investigated the feasibility of using integrated GPR and sedimentological data to reconstruct dunes structure,sedimentary environment and geomorphological evolution.The results show that the internal structures of star dune and transverse dune represent various stages of mega-dune evolution: the main deposition processes of mega-dune are similar to those of transverse dunes but have a more complicated mechanism of sand transport and deposition because of the superimposition of dunes;the upper section of the mega-dune has a structure similar to that of star dune,with vertical aggradations on top.Diffraction hyperbolae in the GPR profile indicates that the presence of ancient dunes characterized by calcareous cementation layers is involved in the maintenance of mega-dunes,and water levels,shown by continuous,sub-horizontal GPR reflections,are supposed to be closely related to mega-dunes and the interdune lakes.Outcrop of wet sand and horizontal stratifications on the GPR image indicate moisture potentials with different levels inside mega-dunes.The multiplex geomorphology in the Badain Jaran Desert is the result of global climatic undulation,the unique geographical location,the geological structural features,etc.

百科大拼盘

沙漠暗藏着地下大型水库河海大学陈建生等人在《自然》杂志上报告了一项令人惊讶的发现:在我国西北巴吉林沙漠下面存在一个年补给量为5亿立方米以上的大型地下水库一。

短小精悍 中国玉龙沙湖越野挑战赛

玉龙沙湖的赛段是最短的,但却是最复杂最艰难的也是最漂亮的之一9月25日,中国玉龙沙湖越野挑战赛在位于内蒙古赤峰市翁牛特旗的玉龙沙湖景区揭开战幕。本届赛事共有4个特殊赛段,分别在玉龙沙湖景区、勃隆克景区和松树山景区内,总长约240km。比起环塔拉力赛和大越野,玉龙沙湖的赛段是最短的,但却是最复杂最艰难的也是最漂亮的之一。赛道内包括沙漠、草原、

Deep soil water infiltration and its dynamic variation in the shifting sandy land of typical deserts in China

Soil moisture is the key resource constraint in arid ecosystems, and has been a focus of research on restoration. However, quantitative studies on the contribution of rainfall to deep soil rainfall infiltration are lacking. In this study, we used the YWB-01 Deep Soil Infiltration Water Recorder which had been invented by ourselves to measure the quantity of rain infiltration into deep soil, 150 cm below ground, in four locations in China: Mu Us Sandy Land and Ulan Buh, Tengger, and Badan Jilin deserts over a 2-year period. We found:(1) Deep soil rainfall infiltration decreased progressively from east to west and from semiarid to arid areas, with two locations completely lacking rainfall infiltration. Heavy rain was important to deep soil infiltration in shifting sandy land of arid and semiarid areas.(2) Seasonal variation of infiltration was correlated with rainfall, with a time lag that was less apparent in areas with more rainfall.(3) For single intense rainfall events, infiltration maximums occurred 40–55 h after the rainfall, during which the infiltration rates increased rapidly before reaching a peak, and then decreased slowly. Continuous infiltration could last about 150 h. Rainfall infiltration was determined by the combined action of intensity, quantity and duration. Rainfall with low intensity, long duration, and large quantity was most favorable for deep soil infiltration. Our results can be used in water resource assessments and protection during eco-restoration in the arid and semiarid areas in China.

The discovery of surface runoff in the megadunes of Badain Jaran Desert,China,and its significance

The Badain Jaran Desert exhibits the greatest difference in altitude of all of the world's deserts.On the slopes of megadunes in the desert,there are physical and chemical deposits produced by surface runoff.In addition,we have observed rarely-seen infiltration-excess surface runoff in the megadune depressions as well as spring streams at the base of megadunes.We used electron microscopy,energy spectrum analysis,infiltration experiments,moisture content determinations and grain-size analysis to study the mineral and chemical composition of the runoff precipitates,and grain-size of the deposits associated with the runoff,together with the hydrological balance in the megadune area,and the atmospheric precipitation mechanism responsible for groundwater recharge and for supplying water to lakes.The observations of shallow runoff and infiltration-excess surface runoff indicate the occurrence of strong and effective precipitation in summer,which would provide an important source for groundwater recharge.Several lines of evidence,such as the physical and chemical deposits resulting from shallow subsurface runoff,spring streams,infiltration-excess runoff,and gravity capillary water with a moisture content of 3-6%,demonstrate that precipitation reaches the base of the megadunes through infiltration and subsequently becomes groundwater.The chemical deposits,such as newly-formed calcite and gypsum,and gray-black physical deposits,as well as different stages in the development of fan-shaped landforms resulting from shallow subsurface runoff,indicate that groundwater recharge in the area is the result of long-term precipitation,rather than intermittent individual major rainfall events.Fine sand layers with a low infiltration capacity lead to subsurface runoff emerging at the ground surface.Five factors play an important role in maintaining a positive water balance and in replenishing groundwater via rainfall:effective rainfall as a water source,the high infiltration capacity of the sands enabling rainfall to rapidly become capillary water in the dunes,low evapotranspiration rates due to the sparse vegetation,the fact that the depth of the sand layer influenced by evaporation is shallow enough to maximize the deep infiltration of rainfall,and rapidly-moving gravity capillary water in the sandy dunes.These five factors together constitute a mechanism for groundwater recharge from rainfall,and explain the origin of the groundwater and lakes in the area.Our findings represent a significant advance in research on the hydrological cycle,including groundwater recharge conditions and recharge mechanisms,in this desert region.