The intensity of sand-drift activities in Taklimakan Desert

Abstract

The intensity of sand-drift activities is the important theoretic base for both studying the formation and evolution of aeolian geomorphology and carrying out the sand-damage control measures. Based on statistics and calculations of wind data, this paper studied the intensities of the sand-drift of Taklimakan Desert and drawn some preliminary conclusio ns as follows: ① Except Ruoqiang district, the whole Taklimakan Desert belongs to low-energy environment and the drift potential in most areas is less than 20 0VU. ② With the increase of wind velocity, its frequency decreases gradually, so the most effective sand-moving winds range from 6.1m/s to 10.0m/s, but the most contributors to sand flux concentrate between 9.0 m/s and 11.0 m/s. ③ The intensity of sand-drift activities has great temporal and spatial variation s. As seasons concerned, the sand-drift activity is the strongest during spring and summer and is the weakest in winter, and the autumnlies between them. Ho wever, in the interior of the desert there is a phenomenon called as wind-temp erature synchronization, that is, the monthly mean temperature and wind velocity get their maximum values during June and July. On the fringe of the desert, the maximum temperature occurs in June and July, while the maximum wind velocity in April and May. According to the calculated results of drift potential and sandflux, the intensity of sand-drift activities is stronger in the central and eastern parts than that of western, southern and southwestern parts. Although this study has got some results, there is still some important work to carry out in future. At first, to give a rational explanation of the temporal and spatial variations of the intensity of sand-drift activities, in combination with the circulation patterns at different elevations. Secondly, to give a det ailed explanation of the wind-temperature synchronization phenomenon through scientific experiments. And finally, to integrate the intensity of sand-drift activities with the degree of sand dune activities, so as to provide more effect ive base for sand-damage control measures.