Analysis of Parabolic Dune Morphometry and Its Migration in Thar Desert Area, India, using High-Resolution Satellite Data and Temporal DEM

Abstract

Thar Desert region is mainly comprised of sand dunes and sand sheets which are distributed in more than 80 per cent geographical area of western Rajasthan. Among the different types of sand dunes, nearly 50 per cent area of western Rajasthan is covered by parabolic dunes. However, morphodynamics of parabolic dunes in the Thar Desert is not fully understood. For this purpose, high-resolution satellite data of IRS RS2 LISS-IV (5.8 m resolution) and Cartosat-1 DEM (10 m resolution) have been used for delineation of parabolic dunes with the derivation of morphometric parameters (dune length, dune area, volume of sand accumulation and dune height) in western Rajasthan. Scatter plots of these morphometric parameters show a linear relationship with correlation coefficient (0.59–0.80). Interpolated maps show an increased rate of wind speed during 1980–2014. Although several measures have been taken for sand dune stabilisation, differential sand migration has been estimated for selected parabolic dunes using temporal DEMs (SRTM DEM of 2000 and Carto DEM of 2009). The analysis shows average dune shifting of 7.11 m/year in Barmer, 5.15 m/year in Jaisalmer and 3.51 m/year in Bikaner districts of western Rajasthan in the Thar Desert area.