Blown sand motion within the sand-control system in the southern section of the Taklimakan Desert Highway

Although scientists have performed many studies in the Taklimakan Desert, few of them have reported the blown sand motion along the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert Highway, which differs significantly from the northern region in terms of aeolian sand geomorphology and formation environment. Based on the field ob- servation data of airflow and aeolian sand transport, continuous monitoring data of erosional and depositional processes between 14 April 2009 and 9 April 2011 and data of surface sand grains from the classical section along the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert Highway, this paper reported the blown sand motion within the sand-control system of the highway. The main results are as follows： 1） The existing sand-control system is highly effective in preventing and controlling desertification. Wind velocities within the sand-control system were ap- proximately 33%-100% of those for the same height above the mobile sand surface. Aeolian sand fluxes were approximately 0-31.21% of those of the mobile sand surface. Sand grains inside the system, with a mean diameter of 2.89 q）, were finer than those （2.15 q）） outside the system. In addition, wind velocities basically followed a loga- rithmic law, but the airflow along the classical section was mainly determined by topography and vegetation. 2） There were obvious erosional and depositional phenomena above the surface within the sand-control system, and these phenomena have very consistent patterns for all observation points in the two observed years. The total thicknesses of erosion and deposition ranged from 0.30 to 14.60 cm, with a mean value of 3.67 cm. In contrast, the deposition thicknesses were 1.90-22.10 cm, with a mean value of 7.59 cm, and the erosion thicknesses were 3.51-15.10 cm, with a mean value of 8.75 cm. The results will aid our understanding of blown sand within the sand-control system and provide a strong foundation for optimizing the sand-control system.

Grain-size Characteristics of Sediments Formed Since 8600 yr B.P. in Middle Reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet and Their Paleoenvironmental Significance

Widespread aeolian sediments have been found in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, China, The grain-size characteristics of sediments from Cha＇er Section in the area were analyzed. The results show that the section include one stratum of paleo-mobile dunes, four strata of paleo-semi-fixed dunes, two strata of paleo-fixed dunes, one stratum of sandy immature soils. The paleo-mobile and paleo-semi-fixed dune sand in this section are similar to modem aeolian sand in either grain-size composition or Mz and c distribution. Compared the above types of dunes each other, the content of sand substance decreases, while the content of silt and clay increases for paleo-fixed dunes and sandy immature soils. Combined with age data for each stratum, the analysis shows that these strata are the products of climate changes and the evolution of aeolian landforms. The evolutionary sequence of the paleoclimate and of aeolian activities in the valley since 8600 yr B.P. reveals four stages： 8600-5700 yr B.P., when the paleoclimate was cold and dry, with strong winds, thereby activating dunes; 5700-3600 yr B.P., when it was warm and wet, with weak winds, causing dunes to undergo soil-forming processes; 3600-1900 yr B.P., when climate shifted from cold-dry with strong winds to warm-wet with weak winds, and activated dunes were fixed again; and 1900 yr B.P. -present, when the climate became fine, with weak winds, fixing dunes again.

Application of a new wind driving force model in soil wind erosion area of northern China

The shear stress generated by the wind on the land surface is the driving force that results in the wind erosion of the soil.It is an independent factor influencing soil wind erosion.The factors related to wind erosivity,known as submodels,mainly include the weather factor(WF)in revised wind erosion equation(RWEQ),the erosion submodel(ES)in wind erosion prediction system(WEPS),as well as the drift potential(DP)in wind energy environmental assessment.However,the essential factors of WF and ES contain wind,soil characteristics and surface coverings,which therefore results in the interdependence between WF or ES and other factors(e.g.,soil erodible factor)in soil erosion models.Considering that DP is a relative indicator of the wind energy environment and does not have the value of expressing wind to induce shear stress on the surface.Therefore,a new factor is needed to express accurately wind erosivity.Based on the theoretical basis that the soil loss by wind erosion(Q)is proportional to the shear stress of the wind on the soil surface,a new model of wind driving force(WDF)was established,which expresses the potential capacity of wind to drive soil mass in per unit area and a period of time.Through the calculations in the typical area,the WDF,WF and DP are compared and analyzed from the theoretical basis,construction goal,problem-solving ability and typical area application;the spatial distribution of soil wind erosion intensity was concurrently compared with the spatial distributions of the WDF,WF and DP values in the typical area.The results indicate that the WDF is better to reflect the potential capacity of wind erosivity than WF and DP,and that the WDF model is a good model with universal applicability and can be logically incorporated into the soil wind erosion models.

Grain size distribution at four developmental stages of crescent dunes in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert,China

Although scientists have performed many studies on crescent （barchan） dunes in the Taklimakan Desert,few studies reported the changes in grain size at different development stages of crescent dunes.In order to evaluate the changing trends of surface sediment grain size with dune development,we investigated the grain size characteristics at four developmental stages （oval sand pile,shield dune,incipient crescent dune and mature crescent dune） of crescent dunes by measuring the morphology of sand dune and observing the near-surface wind regime.The dunes have developed in a wide inter-dune corridor between high compound longitudinal ridges in China＇s Taklimakan Desert.The surface sediments at four developmental stages of the crescent dunes were primarily composed of fine sands,followed by very fine and medium sands.Mean grain sizes ranged from 2.8 to 3.1 φ,with a unimodal distribution.The sands were moderately well-sorted,their distribution varied from platykurtic to very platykurtic,and symmetrical or skewed towards the fine particles.From oval sand piles through shield and incipient crescent dunes to mature crescent dunes,incipient grain size gradually increased,particles became finer,sorting became better,kurtosis and skewness increased.Grain sizes on the surface layer became coarser upwards from the toe of the windward slope and then became finer towards the bottom of the leeward slope.We found that the coarsest particles at different positions at the four developmental stages were different.The coarsest particles were distributed at the top of the oval sand piles and shield dunes,versus at the middle of the windward slope of the incipient and mature crescent dunes.Correlations between the mean grain size and other grain size parameters showed that as mean grain size became finer,sorting became better and kurtosis became wider,but skewness changed only slightly.In addition,grain size variation in the surface sediments correlated with the movement speed of the dunes in the study area.In the open ground among tall-complex longitudinal ridges in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert where aeolian environment is characterized by comparatively strong wind and unsaturated sand flow,faster dune movement corresponded to coarser grain size.

Separating emitted dust from the total suspension in airflow based on the characteristics of PM10 vertical concentration profiles on a Gobi surface in northwestern China

During aeolian processes,the two most critical factors related to dust emissions are soil particle and aggregate saltation,which greatly affect the vertical profiles of near-surface dust concentrations.In this study,we measured PM10 concentrations at four different heights(0.10,0.50,1.00 and 2.00 m)with and without continuous and simultaneous aeolian saltation processes on a Gobi surface in northwestern China from 31 March to 10 April,2017.We found that the vertical concentration profiles of suspended PM10 matched the log-law model well when there was no aeolian saltation.For the erosion process with saltation,we divided the vertical concentration profiles of PM10 into the saltation-affected layer and the airflow-transport layer according to two different dust sources(i.e.,locally emitted PM10 and upwind transported PM10).The transition height between the saltation-affected layer and the airflow-transport layer was not fixed and varied with saltation intensity.From this new perspective,we calculated the airflow-transport layer and the dust emission rate at different times during a wind erosion event occurred on 5 April 2017.We found that dust emissions during wind erosion are primarily controlled by saltation intensity,contributing little to PM10 concentrations above the ground surface compared to PM10 concentrations transported from upwind directions.As erosion progresses,the surface supply of erodible grains is the most crucial factor for saltation intensity.When there was a sufficient amount of erodible grains,there was a significant correlation among the friction velocity,saltation intensity and dust emission rate.However,when supply is limited by factors such as surface renewal or an increase in soil moisture,the friction velocity will not necessarily correlate with the other two factors.Therefore,for the Gobi surface,compared to limiting dust emissions from upwind directions,restricting the transport of suspended dust in its path is by far a more efficient and realistic option for small areas that are often exposed to dust storms.This study provides some theoretical basis for correctly estimating PM10 concentrations in the Gobi areas.

Comparison of two classification methods to identify grain size fractions of aeolian sediment

Grain-size class-Std(GSCStd) and Grain-size class-dD(GSCdD) methods are simple statistical approaches for classifying bulk grain-size distributions(GSDs) into grain-size fractions. Although these two methods were developed based on similar statistical principles, the classification difference between these two methods has not been analyzed. In this study, GSCStd and GSCdD methods are conducted in thirteen grain-size data sequences to examine the applicability for identifying grain size fractions. Results show that, application of the GSCStd method is equivalent to that of the GSCdD method in identifying finer grain-size fractions, and the difference between the two methods mainly comes from the identification of coarse grain-size fractions. Thus, finer grain-size fractions are recommended for use in research of surface aeolian and paleo-aeolian sediments. In addition, our results do not completely agree with previous studies, coarser grain-size fractions in our case suggest that the GSCdD method may not be more applicable than the GSCStd method.

Variability and trends of near-surface wind speed over the Tibetan Plateau:The role played by the westerly and Asian monsoon

Near-surface wind speed exerts profound impacts on many environmental issues,while the long-term(≥60 years)trend and multidecadal variability in the wind speed and its underlying causes in global high-elevation and mountainous areas(e.g.,Tibetan Plateau)remain largely unknown.Here,by examining homogenized wind speed data from 104 meteorological stations over the Tibetan Plateau for 1961-2020 and ERA5 reanalysis datasets,we investigated the variability and long-term trend in the near-surface wind speed and revealed the role played by the westerly and Asian monsoon.The results show that the homogenized annual wind speed displays a decreasing trend(-0.091 m s^(−1)per decade,p<0.05),with the strongest in spring(-0.131 m s^(−1)per decade,p<0.05),and the weakest in autumn(-0.071 m s^(−1)per decade,p<0.05).There is a distinct multidecadal variability of wind speed,which manifested in an prominent increase in 1961-1970,a sustained decrease in 1970-2002,and a consistent increase in 2002-2020.The observed decadal variations are likely linked to large-scale atmospheric circulation,and the correlation analysis unveiled a more important role of westerly and East Asian winter monsoon in modulating near-surface wind changes over the Tibetan Plateau.The potential physical processes associated with westerly and Asian monsoon changes are in concordance with wind speed change,in terms of overall weakened horizontal air flow(i.e.,geostrophic wind speed),declined vertical thermal and dynamic momentum transfer(i.e.,atmospheric stratification thermal instability and vertical wind shear),and varied Tibetan Plateau vortices.This indicates that to varying degrees these processes may have contributed to the changes in near-surface wind speed over the Tibetan Plateau.This study has implications for wind power production and soil wind erosion prevention in the Tibetan Plateau.

Development of center pivot irrigation farmlands from 2009 to 2018 in the Mu Us dune field,China:Implication for land use planning

The Mu Us dune field in China has become a focal region for research of the prevention and control of desertification.Agricultural practices in this area have been modernized in recent years,evidenced by the development of Center Pivot Irrigation(CPI)farmlands.However,the impacts of CPI farmlands on combating desertification remain poorly understood.This study chose the southeastern part of the Mu Us dune field as a study area to investigate the variations of CPI farmlands from 2009 to 2018 and the influencing factors.The results showed growth trends in both the number and the area of these CPI farmland units over the period.The areas of meso-and micro-scale CPI farmland units stabilized over time to mainly 0-0.2 km2 and 0.2-0.4 km2,respectively;Topography,temperature,and geological substratum were preliminarily identified as the major natural factors driving the development of the CPI farmlands.Within the context of varied stakeholders,the potential for soil erosion,and damage to natural vegetation,the current study suggests that strict management of CPI farmland is required through effective long-term planning and land-use policies.The results of this study can assist in realizing the sustainable development of agriculture and its ecological significance in dune field areas.

Cogitation on developing a dynamic model of soil wind erosion

Studies on soil wind erosion began with single factors affecting soil wind erosion; with increasing quantities of data being accumulated,the wind erosion equation(WEQ),the revised wind erosion equation(RWEQ),the wind erosion prediction system(WEPS),and other soil wind erosion models have been successively established,and great advances have been achieved.Here we briefly review the soil wind erosion research course and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the current soil wind erosion models.From the perspective of the dynamics of wind erosion,we classified the factors affecting soil wind erosion into three categories,namely,wind erosivity factors(WEF),soil antierodibility factors(SAF),and roughness interference factors(RIF).We proposed the concept of a standard plot of soil wind erosion to solve the problem of uncertainty of the soil wind erosion modulus on a spatial scale,and provided methods to set similarity conditions in wind tunnel simulation experiments and to convert the spatial scale of the wind erosion modulus from the standard plot to a large scale field.We also proposed a conceptual model on the basis of the dynamics of soil wind erosion with the theoretical basis that wind produces a shear force on the soil surface.This shear force is partitioned by barely erodible soil surfaces and roughness elements on the ground,and the amount of soil loss by wind should be calculated by comparing the shear force of the wind on barely erodible soil surfaces with the anti-erosion force of the surface soil.One advantage of this conceptual model is that the calculated soil wind erosion modulus is not subject to changes of spatial scale.Finally,we recommended continual improvement of the existing models while also establishing new models.

Warming hiatus of extreme temperature across China's cold regions during 1998-2018

The recent hiatus in global warming has attracted significant attention,yet whether it is a widespread global and/or regional phenomenon remains controversial.Here,we investigate the response of extreme temperature changes since 1961 across China's cold regions(CCR):Tibetan determine the spatiotemporal characteristics of extreme temperature changes across these cold regions using Mann-Kendall and wavelet transform coherence(WTC)analyses of data from 196 meteorological stations from 1961 to 2018.We further investigate the teleconnection between extreme temperatures and large-scale ocean-atmosphere circulation to determine the potential synoptic scale causes of the observed changes.The results revealed a significant warming slowdown in all extreme tempera-ture indices across CCR from 1998 to 2018.In addition,extreme temperature indices in northwest cold region(NWC)and north cold region(NC)reveal a clear winter warming slowdown and even a significant cooling trend,yet only the cold index in Tibetan Platean cold region(TPC)shows a warming hiatus.We conclude that the warming hiatus observed across these regions is primarily driven by extreme temperature index changes in winter.We also find that phase variations in the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation(AMO)and Arctic Oscillation(AO)critically impact on the observed warming hiatus,but the specific atmospheric mechanisms are elusive and warrant further analysis and investigation.

The varying fetch effect of aeolian sand transport above a gobi surface and its implication for gobi development process

The Gobi deserts are important landscapes and major sandstorm source areas in arid northwestern China.Unsaturated sand flow and decreasing sand supply capacity is well known as the basic characteristics of gobi surface,but relatively little attention has been paid to the fetch effect of sand transport which is closely related to sand supply and indicative of wind erosion process in gobi.Using a field experiment,we investigated the spatial and temporal variations on a manually disturbed gobi surface downwind a sand-blocking belt and a sand-fixing belt by measuring the sand transport rate and the height profile of flux density at different fetch lengths during a sequence of wind erosion events.Results showed that the sand supply capacity determined the critical fetch length(Lc)for the sand transport rate so that the fetch effect varied with wind erosion proceeding due to depletion of erodible material.The height profile of flux density above the surface followed two distributions:an exponential decrease with increasing height,which commonly occurred above the newly treated gobi surface during the early wind erosion events;or a Lorentzian distribution with a peak flux at a certain height,which often happened in the later wind erosion events.The varying fetch effect,decreasing sand transport rates,and the nonerodible area expanded downwind are an epitome of the gobi development and expansion process from the perspective of wind erosion.

Holocene aeolian activities linked to Indian summer monsoon in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River

Widespread aeolian deposits on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)have provided valuable palaeoclimatic information.However,the primary factors(e.g.,climate factors,human activity,and vegetation cover)controlling aeolian deposition remain elusive.In this paper,we use a dataset that comprises new and published ages of Holocene aeolian sand and loess in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River to identify the primary controlling factors and palaeoclimatic implications of aeolian deposition.Several intervals of enhanced aeolian accumulation centered at 8.5-7.8,6.4-5.8,4.5-4.0,3.1-1.8,and 0.9 ka are identified,generally consistent with regional low rainfall events and weak Indian summer monsoon(ISM).This suggests that regional wetness,dominated by the ISM,may play a key role in modulating dust emissions and aeolian deposition on centennial timescales.Our results show that on centennial-to millennial-scales,ISM activity can be reconstructed by non-continuous aeolian deposits in the monsoon dominated TP.

Wind Erosion Climate Change in Northern China During 1981-2016

Wind erosion is largely controlled by climate conditions.In this study,we examined the influences of changes in wind speed,soil wetness,snow cover,and vegetation cover related to climate change on wind erosion in northern China during 1981–2016.We used the wind erosion force,defined as wind factor in the Revised Wind Erosion Equation Model,to describe the effect of wind speed on wind erosion.The results show that wind erosion force presented a long-term decreasing trend in the southern Northwest,northern Northwest,and eastern northern China during 1981–2016.In the Gobi Desert,the wind erosion force presented for 1981–1992 a decreasing trend,for 1992–2012 an increasing trend,and thereafter a weakly decreasing trend.In comparison to wind speed,soil wetness and snow cover had weaker influences on wind erosion in northern China,while vegetation cover played a significant role in the decrease of wind erosion in the eastern northern China during 1982–2015.

Wind tunnel simulation of wind erosion and dust emission processes,and the influences of soil texture

Dust emission caused by wind erosion of soil is an important surface process in arid and semi-arid regions.However,existing dust emission models pay insufficient attention to the impacts of aerodynamic entrainment of particles.In addition,studies of wind erosion processes do not adequately account for the dynamics of wind erosion rates and dust emission fluxes,or for the impact of soil texture on dust emission.Our wind tunnel simulations of wind erosion and dust emission showed that the soil texture,wind erosion duration,and shear velocity are major factors that affect the dynamics of wind erosion and dust emission.Because of the limited supply of surface sand and the change in surface erosion resistance caused by surface coarsening during erosion,the wind erosion rate and the flux of particles smaller than 10μm(PM_(10))caused by aerodynamic entrainment decreased rapidly with increasing erosion duration,which suggests that surface wind erosion and dust emission occur primarily during the initial stage of wind erosion.The PM_(10) emission efficiency decreased with increasing shear velocity following a power function,and finer textured sandy loam soils had greater PM_(10) emission efficiency than loamy sand soils.