Aeolian saltation over plateau gobi: Field studies in the Zhongzaohuo gobi area, northeastern Tibetan plateau, China

Abstract

Aeolian sand movement, affected by low air density, exhibits special characteristics. Our understanding of saltation, especially in plateau gobi regions, is limited. Here, we report results of aeolian saltation processes over gobi in the Zhongzaohuo area of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau using high-frequency saltation measurement. The key findings include: (1) In turbulent winds, aeolian sand saltation on plateau gobi occurs intermittently. As the aeolian sand transport activity parameter increases, the threshold wind speed Ut for sand movement decreases exponentially. Concurrently, the threshold wind speed required to move sand particles shows a significant increase, being 49%–68% higher than that in lower altitude gobi regions. (2) The average saltation height zq in plateau gobi ranges from 0.25 to 0.40 m, with a mean value of 0.36 ± 0.04 m, which is approximately 2.3–2.6 times higher than that in lower altitude gobi areas. (3) Sand transport rate in the plateau gobi is significantly reduced, being 57%–94% lower than that in lower altitude gobi areas. This research will deepen our knowledge of how turbulent winds affect aeolian sand movements in plateau gobi regions.