Effects of sand-fixing and windbreak forests on wind flow:a synthesis of results from field experiments and numerical simulations

Sand-fixing and windbreak forests are widely used to protect or/and improve the ecological environments in arid and semi-arid regions. A full understanding of wind flow characteristics is essential to arranging the patterns of these protective forests for enhancing the effectiveness. In this study, the wind velocity over the underlying surface with sand-fixing forests and windbreak forests at the heights of 1–49 m was monitored from two 50-m high observation towers in an oasis of Minqin, Gansu Province of China. The wind velocities were simulated at different locations over these protective forests between those two towers by a two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics（CFD） model. The results showed that at the heights of 1–49 m, the wind velocity profiles followed a classical logarithm law at the edge of the oasis and a multilayer structure inside the oasis. With increasing number of sand-fixing forest and windbreak forest arrays, the wind velocity at the heights of 1–49 m generally decreased along the downstream direction of the prevailing wind. Specifically, below the height of windbreak forests, the wind velocity decelerates as the airflow approaches to the windbreak forests and then accelerates as the airflow passes over the windbreak forests. In contrast, above the height of windbreak forests, the wind velocity accelerates as the airflow approaches to the windbreak forests and then generally decelerates as the airflow passes over the windbreak forests. Both the array number and array spacing of sand-fixing and windbreak forests could influence the wind velocity. The wind protection effects of sand-fixing forests were closely related to the array spacing of windbreak forests and increased with the addition of sand-fixing forests when the array of the forests was adequately spaced. However, if the array spacing of windbreak forests was smaller than seven times of the heights of windbreak forests, the effects were reduced or completely masked by the effects of windbreak forests. The results could offer theoretical guidelines on how to systematically arrange the patterns of sand-fixing and windbreak forests for preventing wind erosion in the most convenient and the cheapest ways.

Wind-proof and sand-fixing effects of Artemisia ordosica with different coverages in the Mu Us Sandy Land,northern China

Wind erosion is a key global environmental problem and has many adverse effects.The Mu Us Sandy Land of northern China is characterized by an arid climate,where vegetation patches and bare sand patches are usually distributed mosaically,and aeolian activities occur frequently.Vegetation plays a significant role in controlling wind erosion.Artemisia ordosica is the most dominant native plant species in the Mu Us Sandy Land.It is urgent to study the wind-proof and sand-fixing effects of Artemisia ordosica in the Mu Us Sandy Land.This study analyzed the wind-proof and sand-fixing effects of Artemisia ordosica based on the field data of wind regimes,aeolian sediment transport,and surface change of Artemisia ordosica plots with four coverages(denoted as site A,site B,site C,and site D)in the Mu Us Sandy Land during the period from 1 June 2018 to 29 June 2019.The coverages of Artemisia ordosica at site A,site B,site C,and site D were 2%,16%,29%,and 69%,respectively.The annual average wind speeds at 2.0 m height above the ground for site A,site B,site C,and site D were 3.47,2.77,2.21,and 1.97 m/s,respectively.The annual drift potentials were 193.80,69.72,15.05,and 6.73 VU at site A,site B,site C,and site D,respectively.The total horizontal aeolian sediment fluxes during the period from 2-3 June 2018 to 6 June 2019 at site A,site B,site C,and site D were 4633.61,896.80,10.54,and 6.14 kg/m,respectively.Site A had the largest surface changes,and the surface changes at site B were significantly weaker than those at site A,whereas the surface changes at site C and site D were minimal.The results indicated that Artemisia ordosica significantly reduced the wind speed,drift potential,aeolian sediment transport,and surface changes.The higher the coverage of Artemisia ordosica is,the more obvious the effects of wind-proof and sand-fixing.Wind erosion would be effectively controlled in the Mu Us Sandy Land if the coverage of Artemisia ordosica is greater than 29%.These results provide a scientific basis for evaluating the ecosystem service function of Artemisia ordosica and the vegetation protection and construction projects in the Mu Us Sandy Land.

Preparation and Water Retention Properties of Clay-based Sand-fixing and Grass-planting Materials

Targeting the problem of available water conservation in sand fixation, the sand-fixing and grass-planting materials were prepared with clay modified by emulsifying vegetable waxes and octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether （OP4）. The water retention property was studied in simulating desertification environmental climate and the materials were characterized by means of UV-Vis, SEM, FTIR, XRD and TGA measurements. The experimental result showed that the materials had excellent water retention properties, due to that vegetable waxes adhered evenly to clay particle surfaces, made the clay pores changing from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and so inhibited the water evaporation. Grass-planting experiment showed that, with reasonable mass ratio of clay, vegetable waxes and surfactant, the materials not only inhibited water evaporation but also maintained sound air permeability so shat the germination rate and survival rate of grass were significantly improved.

Sand-fixing characteristics of Carex brunnescens and its application with straw checkerboard technique in restoration of degraded alpine meadows

Carex brunnescens（Pers.）, a typical clonal species, is considered to be the only herb found to date that can develop on sand dunes in Maqu alpine region of northwestern China. However, the characteristics that C. brunnescens resists to harsh alpine environment have not been documented. In this study, we conducted a field investigation to determine the morphological, reproductive, and sand-fixing characteristics of C. brunnescens. Concomitantly, we transplanted the belowground rhizomes of C. brunnescens to sand dunes and compared the abilities to restore degraded alpine meadows among sand dunes that had no further treatment（SD＋N）, sand dunes that had straw checkerboard technique but no transplanted rhizomes of C. brunnescens（SD＋SCT）, and sand dunes that had both SCT and transplanted rhizomes of C. brunnescens（SD＋SCT＋P）. We found that belowground vertical rhizomes and horizontal rhizomes（including branching rhizomes and main rhizomes） of C. brunnescens were highly developed and that population reproduction was dominated by horizontal rhizomes. C. brunnescens exhibited a significant sand-fixation effect under following conditions： population density was 145–156 ramets/m^2, vegetation cover was 31.2%–39.3%, total length of belowground rhizomes was 11,223 cm/m^2, total length of belowground first-order roots was 9161–10,524 cm/m^2, fresh weight of aboveground part was 198.5–212.6 g/m^2, and fresh weight of belowground part was 578.8–612.4 g/m^2. It should be particularly noted that SD＋SCT＋P treatment（sand dunes that had both straw checkerboard technique and transplanted rhizomes of C. brunnescens） was the best and SD＋N（sand dunes that had no further treatment） was the worst in terms of following biotic indicators： total number of reproductive ramets, total number of belowground rhizomes, and fresh weight of aboveground and belowground parts of C. brunnescens, contents of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial biomass nitrogen. It implies that applying SCT in sand dunes and transplanting belowground rhizomes to sand dunes with SCT could improve both soil fertility and growth of C. brunnescens. These results suggest that the SCT-promoted high reproductive abilities of belowground rhizomes of C. brunnescens can successfully facilitate the establishment of ramets and can thus be an effective strategy to restore degraded vegetation in Maqu alpine region of northwestern China.

Analysis of the Application of Windbreak and Sand Fixation Technology in Desert Roads

In order to solve the problems in the construction of desert roads and improve the quality of desert roads in China,this paper discusses the current windbreak and sand fixation technologies in desert areas in China,and puts forward relevant suggestions and corresponding solutions for each problem.This paper is written with hopes of contributing to the development of windbreak and sand fixation technologies in China as well as the development of the economy,society and environment in China's deserts.

基于多孔介质的高速铁路透风式挡风墙关键参数研究

合理的匹配参数是风区铁路沿线防风设施研究的关键问题。针对风区铁路沿线部分区段混凝土实心挡风墙出现的环境风越过挡风墙顶导致严重的弓网离线、无法正常升弓,危及铁路行车安全问题,提出改“堵”为“疏”,通过一定的透风率来调控挡风墙后的线路风场,从而为缓解上述现象提供一种新思路,其关键问题在于透风式挡风墙关键参数与防风效果的合理匹配。为此,基于多孔介质的自身特性,提出一种基于多孔介质的挡风墙风场新研究方法,将挡风墙透风率与防风效果的合理匹配问题转化为多孔介质的阻力系数与列车气动载荷的关系研究。首先,通过比较数值模拟结果与兰新高铁挡风墙风场现场试验结果,修正并验证数值模拟方法的准确性。然后,通过数值模拟研究进一步探究多孔介质阻力参数与挡风墙透风率之间的关系,获得风区铁路沿线透风式挡风墙关键参数最优区间。研究结果表明:可以采用多孔介质代替挡风墙几何进行挡风墙风场研究,能够显著提升研究效率;多孔介质的黏性阻力系数在挡风墙风场研究中可以忽略,多孔介质的惯性阻力系数与挡风墙的透风率呈幂函数关系;风区铁路沿线透风式挡风墙高度为3.5 m,透风率在24.4%~28.7%区间时,对一线、二线列车的防风效果最好。

槽式太阳能阵列挡风增速效果数值模拟

采用开源计算流体力学软件OpenFOAM中的Simple求解器对流场进行数值模拟,研究5.00 m/s风速下槽式太阳能阵列挡风墙挡风效果。对由槽式太阳能阵列组成的6个不同高度的挡风墙对整体流场速度的影响以及不同高度挡风墙背风侧30,60,90 m处的速度进行了分析。研究发现,当气流通过挡风墙时,低于墙高的位置速度大幅衰减,而高于墙高的位置开始加速,存在明显的分区作用。当气流流过挡风墙后,会在其后形成明显的速度衰减区,其面积和延伸与挡风墙的高度正相关。在挡风墙背风侧较远处,高于墙高的气流开始减速,低于墙高的气流开始加速,并随着距离的增加风速逐渐趋于平稳。

大风区高速铁路路基双侧挡风墙周围沙粒沉积数值模拟研究

兰新高速铁路横穿多个大风区,对其安全运营造成严重影响。为降低强风对线路的危害,在大风区修筑大量防风构筑物,其中以路基挡风墙最为常见,挡风墙降低了风害的影响,但是带来严重的线路积沙问题。通过数值模拟研究不同风速下路基双侧挡风墙周围的流场特征,利用风产生的壁面剪切应力与沙粒剪切应力的比值确定地表沙粒沉积与侵蚀类型。研究发现,气流在两道挡风墙之间分别形成一个顺时针涡流和一个逆时针涡流,在第二道挡风墙背风侧形成一个顺时针大涡,随着来流风速增大,漩涡尺寸和涡流强度均在增大;由于涡流的存在,部分沙粒被卷走,路堤背风坡附近以及路基面上的沙粒沉积显著减少,当来流风速为24、30 m/s时,南北侧线路道床面均出现沙粒反向侵蚀;单双侧挡风墙的积沙规律对比结果表明,设置双侧挡风墙时,线路积沙显著减少。研究揭示了大风区铁路双侧挡风墙周围路基面上的沙粒沉积规律,对未来风区铁路的防护建设具有指导意义。

木麻黄基干林带对台风“杜苏芮”的防风效应

为了解海防林对台风的防护效应,以惠安赤湖国有防护林场监测站收集的“杜苏芮”台风登陆前后的气象数据为材料,分析了台风登陆前后近地层的风速、风向、湍流强度、防风效能和气流加速率等的特征规律。结果表明:(1)台风登陆前后的平均风速和风向时程变化特征满足了台风眼区经过的条件,平均风速曲线呈“M”形双峰分布,通过采集到的台风眼区、眼壁和外围强风的完整风况数据,完整展示了台风经过林带前后风速、风向的演变过程。(2)湍流强度的时程整体变化趋势随着台风靠近和离去呈现增大-减小-剧增-回落的过程,尤其台风后风圈影响的区域,湍流强度剧烈增大,强度可增大2倍以上。(3)向岸风在垂直方向上,弱风或强风的防风效能随高度增加而降低,高度相同,林带后弱风的防风效能小于强风;水平方向上,林内及林带后1H和5H处防风效能最好,在高度3 m平均防风效能为49.57%~93.93%,在高度9 m平均防风效能为44.04%~90.10%。离岸风在垂直方向上,随着气流靠近林带,弱风或强风的气流加速率随高度增加而增大,林带后1H高度3 m气流加速率平均为0.2193,高度9 m气流加速率平均为0.3242,林内气流加速率达到最低值;而风越过林带后,弱风风速恢复到88%左右,强风的气流则有个加速的过程。

一种计算机模拟的针阔林木抗风性能分析

自然界中的强风常常对树木造成不可逆破坏,分析强风穿过时树林内部的气流情况有利于评估树木的抗风性,更好地理解如何减轻风的影响。以阔叶树和针叶树为原型,提取了二者叶团簇和枝干构造的特点,建立两种结构不同的树木模型,组合成树林模型,在3个不同叶面积密度下进行风力作用下的仿真模拟实验。分别使用改进的k-ε双方程模型和k-ω双方程模型以设置风环境,并且用龙格-库塔法分析求解湍流模型。k-ε双方程模型下,当叶面积密度分别为1,5和10 m~2/m~3时,阔叶林背风侧20 m处的最低风速与入口风速相比下降了49.60%,67.23%和80.40%,针叶林分别为55.13%,68.90%和78.29%。k-ω双方程模型展示了阔叶树林内部风场的复杂性。结果表明,叶面积密度与树林挡风能力之间是非线性关系,树林的挡风能力随叶面积密度的上升而增强,增强到一定程度后上升幅度减缓。不同的树木结构会导致风场的变化,影响同等强度风荷载下的受损概率和挡风能力。叶面积密度高、树冠体积大的树木更容易在强风中受到损害。

多时序卫星遥感数据在麦盖提县防风固沙成效分析中的应用

为了守住家园,打造宜人、宜居、宜业、宜游的社会发展环境,多年来,麦盖提县各族群众奋力与沙相争,使黄沙退去,绿色重建。本文利用国产卫星影像作为数据源,提取麦盖提县百万亩防风固沙生态林建设工程历年变化信息,数字重建变化过程,从分布、面积、健康状况等指标方面分析变化特征,对2013年以来防风固沙工程开展遥感监测,通过卫星影像分析和展现防风固沙实际成效,为麦盖提县经济社会发展和生态环境保护提供科学依据。

东北黑土区防风林带基本特性及其与风向的关系

[目的]为探究东北黑土区防风林带走向与主害风向的关系。[方法]利用遥感解译和野外调查,获取研究区内林带基本特征数据,结合研究区内43个气象站点风速风向数据,对林带走向与主害风向的交角,即风向偏角进行计算分析。[结果]蒙东黑土亚区偏西风占比大,风向较为集中,主害风主导性强烈,松嫩黑土亚区风向较为分散,主害风主导性较弱;平均林带密度松嫩黑土亚区>蒙东黑土亚区;防风林带走向在松嫩黑土亚区占比最大的为N-S走向林带,蒙东黑土亚区没有明显的规律性;研究区内风向偏角<30°占比为29.60%,>30°占比为70.40%,防风作用较差。[结论]研究区内大量防风林带走向与主害风向斜交,对主害风的防护作用较差。该研究结果对于了解现有防风林带密度、走向,进一步建设和改造防风林带有重要参考价值。

乌兰布和荒漠绿洲过渡带白刺灌丛沙堆防风效应风洞模拟

灌丛沙堆作为荒漠绿洲过渡带广泛存在的生物地貌类型,其在不同演化阶段和植被盖度下的风速分布及防风效应对土壤风蚀灾害控制具有重要意义。为揭示灌丛沙堆演化阶段及植被盖度对周围风场结构特征及防风效应指标的影响规律,该研究以乌兰布和沙漠荒漠绿洲过渡带单个和两个白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)灌丛沙堆为对象,利用风洞模拟试验测定其在4个不同演化阶段(雏形阶段、发育阶段、稳定阶段、活化阶段)和3种不同植被盖度(0、40%及70%)工况下竖直和水平面的风速分布,探讨演化阶段及植被盖度对相对速率、防风效能等防风效应指标的影响。研究发现,不同演化阶段的白刺灌丛沙堆在0~0.8H(H为灌丛沙堆高度)高度范围内、距沙堆中心-H~5H水平范围内风速有显著变化;对比坡前减速区、上方加速区、两侧急流区和后方减速区的风速变化发现,白刺灌丛沙堆在后方减速区的风速变化最为显著,处于稳定阶段的灌丛沙堆在植被盖度为70%时的风速最大可减少90%;不同演化阶段中,稳定阶段灌丛沙堆对风速的削减更为显著,防风效能较大,而处于雏形阶段的灌丛沙堆的防风能力相对较弱;在两个平行于风向排列的灌丛沙堆的相互影响下,沙堆之间丘间低地的防风效能比单个灌丛沙堆有所提高,且第二个灌丛沙堆下游区域的防风效能略小于两个灌丛沙堆间的丘间低地;各演化阶段单个和两个灌丛沙堆周围的防风效能均随植被盖度增大而增大。该研究结果可为乌兰布和荒漠绿洲过渡带土壤风蚀防治提供参考。

Utilizing sediment grain size characteristics to assess the effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in reducing aeolian erosion in Minqin desert area,China

The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.

机械沙障与治沙植物不同配置防风固沙效益研究

机械沙障与植物治沙对治理荒漠化土地、固定活化沙丘、降低荒漠化危害具有重要作用。为了解机械沙障与治沙植物不同配置防风固沙效益,以吐鲁番市高昌区荒漠化土地为研究对象,在研究区内设置4种不同的治理模式,通过试验分析不同治理模式的植物保存率、防风效能、地表粗糙度、风速廓线、输沙量和地表蚀积深度等防风固沙效益指标,对比不同配置模式活化沙丘的治理效果。结果表明:(1)机械沙障对治沙植物的生长起到了良好的保护作用,植物存活率大于80%;草方格沙障在初期对植物的保护作用大于高立式沙障,梭梭初期的生长情况弱于同等沙障保护下的柽柳。(2)4种治理模式均具有良好的防风效益,草方格沙障在0.4 m以下的防风效能优于高立式沙障,在0.4 m以上,高立式沙障的防风效能更好,同等保护条件下的柽柳防风效能优于梭梭;草方格沙障的地表粗糙度大于高立式沙障,柽柳的防风效能优于梭梭。(3)草方格沙障在0.4 m以下的阻沙效益优于高立式沙障,但总体阻沙效益弱于高立式沙障,在相同沙障中,柽柳的阻沙效益优于梭梭;4种治理模式对地表均具有良好的固定作用,草方格沙障优于高立式沙障,沙面形态更加平稳,柽柳对土壤的固定作用优于梭梭。草方格沙障+柽柳的治理模式防风固沙效益最佳。

一种全自动沙漠植树机机械结构设计

针对现有沙漠植树机或辅助植树装置,存在操作模块多、效率较低等问题,在此提出研发一种全自动沙漠植树机,该植树机主要由机体框架、挖坑机构、植苗机构、覆土机构、浇水装置以及电控系统等组成。经样机制作实地种植实践检验证明,该植树机能可靠完成挖坑、投苗、覆土到浇水等连续植树工作,并实现了小树苗适量定点投放,具有自动化水平高、效率高、降低劳动强度等优点。

北方风沙区某大型引调水工程水土保持关键技术问题研究

北方风沙区位于欧亚草原东部,在北方生态安全屏障和丝绸之路经济带建设中具有非常重要的战略地位,但同时其生态环境又极其脆弱,区域内沙漠、沙地和戈壁分布集中,降水量稀少、蒸发量大,大风及沙尘暴频发,水土流失及土地荒漠化比较严重,因此控制好北方风沙区人为水土流失就尤为重要。北方风沙区以某供水工程为例,在综合分析工程水土保持设计的复杂程度及技术难点的基础上,明确了水土保持关键技术问题解决方案,为该区域水利工程风沙治理及水土保持措施设计提供了参考。

Evaluation on Regional Ecological Benefits of Windbreak Systems

This paper studied how dynamically to evaluate regional ecological benefits of windbreak systems in a county scale. Data of air temperature. humidity. wind speed, crop yield and forest cover percentage were investigated and collected in some of counties of Heilongjiang Province, where windbreak systems were established in the last thirty years. Through analysis, an evaluation index system estimating regional ecological benetits of windbreak systems was set up, which consists of both a vegetation index system and a climate index systeln. The former includes a forest cover percentage index and a crop yield index; the later does three variable indexes of wind speed, air temperature and humidity. An integrated regional ecological benefit index.was developed through combinations of some coined evaluation indexes from the evaluation system.And to take Zhaozhou County and Anda County as a case study, the regional ecological benetits since establishment of windbreak systems of the two counties were evaluated dynamically using the integrated index.

Plant water use strategies in the Shapotou artificial sand-fixed vegetation of the southeastern margin of the Tengger Desert, northwestern China

Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions(δ^(18)O and δD) of plant xylem water and its potential water sources can provide new information for studying water sources, competitive interactions and water use patterns of plants. The contributions of different water sources to three plants, Hedysarum scoparium(HS), Caragana Korshinskii(CK) and Artemisia ordosica(AO), were investigated in the artificial sand-fixed vegetation of Shapotou, the southeastern margin of the Tengger Desert of northwestern China, based on meteorological data and δ^(18)O and δD values of precipitation, groundwater, soil water and xylem water of HS, CK and AO. Our results indicated that soil water infiltration through precipitation was the main water source of the artificial sand-fixed vegetation. Obvious differences in soil water content and in δ^(18)O of soil water and xylem water were found among different seasons. No relationship was found between the δ^(18)O in plant xylem water and in soil water in January. The same water use patterns were found in CK, HS and AO in May, suggesting they have the same water sources. The different water sources of CK, HS and AO in August indicate that water competition occurred. In addition, the main water sources of CK, HS and AO in August mainly come from shallow soil water, while they use relatively deep soil water in May. This phenomenon is related to the differences of soil water content throughout soil profile, precipitation, transpiration and water competition under different growth periods. The water use patterns of CK, HS and AO respond to soil water content throughout the soil profile and their competition balance for water uptake during different growth season. The results indicate that these sandfixed plants have developed into a relatively stable stage and they are able to regulate their water use behavior as a response to the environmental conditions, which reinforces the effectiveness of plantation of native shrubs without irrigation in degraded areas.

Numerical Analysis of Different Nose Shapes on the Train Aerodynamic Performance at a Windbreak Transition under Crosswinds

Based on the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) method, this paper studied the effect of the nose shape on the aerodynamic performance when the high-speed train subjected to a windbreak transition under crosswinds. The windbreak transition generated by the irregular terrain from the flat ground to the cutting. The results showed that with the height of the front window increased from Z ? 2 to Z + 2 (the dimensionless height), the side force coefficient Cy and rolling moment co-efficient Cmx increased by 26% and 27% for the head car, respectively. The flow structures around the lower front window were smoother than that around the higher front window. The flow structures in the higher front window resulted in more considerable positive pressure on the windward side (WWS) and top of the nose region.