Threshold wind velocity in the lee of two-dimensional transverse dunes

Secondary flow plays an important role in the development of dunes. To investigate this phenomenon, we simulated models of transverse dunes with different stoss slopes in a wind tunnel. We measured the threshold wind velocity at different locations in the lee of the dunes, and observed the corresponding particle movement characteristics under threshold conditions to assess the sedi-mentological significance of secondary airflow. Threshold wind velocity changed with both horizontal distance and stoss slope. Its variation with horizontal distance is characterized by a region in which a rapid reduction occurs, a region with a minimum value, and a region with high value. We confirmed the presence of reversal cells, irrespective of the stoss slope. Neither the variation in threshold wind velocity nor the variation in reattachment distance as a function of stoss slope followed a monotonic function. The 15° stoss slope had the greatest threshold wind velocity and reattachment distance.

Aeolian transport over a developing transverse dune

The spatial and temporal changes in aeolian transport over a dune are fundamental factors that control the morphology of the dune. In the present study, we obtained direct field observations of aeolian transport over a developing transverse dune at the Shapotou Aeolian Experiment Site in the southeastern part of China＇s Tengger Desert. The transport rate versus wind speed relationship relationships over flat surfaces and over dunes that are s complicated over a developing dune compared with the n equilibrium with the wind. We obtained trend lines for transport rate over the transverse dune versus distance. The transport rate generally increased from the toe to the crest above the stoss slope, but the difference in transport rate between the crest and the toe was smaller than those that have been proposed for taller dunes. The crest/toe ratio for transport rates therefore seems to depend greatly on dune height. Flux density profiles for different points above the dune at different wind speeds were well described by the exponential decay law, as has been proposed for saltation flux density profiles. Coefficients in the flux density profile function can be defined in terms of the transport rate and wind speed. However, the dependence of relative decay rate with height and average saltation height on wind speed was weaker than that observed in a wind tunnel and above a fiat surface. The preliminary results obtained in this study require more evidence from field observations to fully describe aeolian transport above developing dunes.

简单横向沙丘表面物质组成、气流分布及其在动力学过程中的意义

对简单横向沙丘的形态特征、气流、表面以及被输移的沙物质组成的观测和分析表明 ,沙丘形态特征和表面物质组成的分异是导致沙物质在迎风坡坡脚不能沉积并向下风向输送的主要原因。对沙丘背风坡气流观测表明 ,在沙丘背风坡贴近地面的一定高度气流仍能保持一定的强度 ,其输沙方向与沙丘走向近似于垂直 ,并有相当强的输沙能力 ,但其作用被限制在背风坡范围内 ,这对保持沙丘形态有重要的作用。在野外风沙观测中气流的湍流和波动被忽略 ,平均风速并不能完全反映野外气流的性质。在低 -中强度风沙活动过程中 ,被输送的沙物质的粒度组成与下垫面物质有明显的差异 ,被输送沙物质的平均粒径小于下垫面沙平均粒径 ,输沙过程是一典型的随机过程。特定区域内 ,一定粒径范围内的沙物质不断被堆积而形成沙丘 ,经过一系列的动力学过程 。

海岸沙丘表面现代风成沙地球化学元素分异的典型研究——以河北昌黎黄金海岸横向沙脊为例

在我国海岸沙丘主要分布地区河北昌黎黄金海岸选取代表性的海岸横向沙脊为研究对象,对其典型断面上沙丘表面不同部位的21种地球化学元素的含量进行了比较分析。结果表明,Co、Zr和Mg三种元素在海岸沙脊表面不同部位的含量差异明显且与海滩沙相比含量差异较大,Cr、Pb、Ti、Nb、As、Mn、Zn和Ba等8种元素的含量差异程度中等,但Y、Ca、Fe、Na、Al、Sr、P、K、Rb和Si等10种元素的差异并不明显,而11种差异程度中等以上元素在海岸横向沙脊迎风坡脚、迎风坡、脊顶、背风坡、背风坡脚等部位的含量变化特征并不一致,呈现出不同的分异模式,其主要原因是受沉积环境、化学元素性质、粒度特征及营力的影响等。

最近10年来新疆风沙地貌研究进展

最新研究表明,塔克拉玛干沙漠风沙活动与气温变化呈现"风热同步"现象,虽然其风况类型多样,但整个沙漠处于低风能环境。不同沙丘部位上风沙流输沙量的对数与高度之间表现为线性关系。当气流与沙丘走向斜交时,两侧相同部位输沙率的差异不大,这是线形沙丘保持其动力形态平衡的主要原因之一。古尔班通古特沙漠也处于复合型低能风环境之中,冬季积雪和冻土对沙漠地表形成有利的保护,有效植被覆盖和生物结皮是沙面整体处于稳定状态的重要因素,风沙活动仅存在于沙垄顶部和两坡上部。沙漠中生物结皮发育、种类丰富,其类型和分布具有明显的景观异质性特征。天山北坡和昆仑山北坡的黄土研究揭示,新疆两大沙漠从中更新世以来出现明显的干旱化,沙漠逐步扩大至今天规模。此外,塔里木沙漠公路和古尔班通古特沙漠输水明渠沿线的风沙危害具有明显的时空分异特点。因此,根据工程设施所处地形与地貌部位,可定性判断风沙危害类型与强度,进而确定防治方案和措施。今后新疆风沙地貌学研究应注重研究领域的拓展、研究方法的突破和实验手段的创新3个方面。