Monitoring and forecasting of climatic factors affecting the mobility of sand dunes using Lancaster index (Case study: Sirjan desert)
Journal Title: Arid Regions Geographic Studies - Year 2022, Vol 13, Issue 48
Abstract
Sand dunes are one of the most important landforms sensitive to wind erosion, the extent of which varies depending on the severity of the impact of various climatic and environmental factors. Sand dunes cover large areas of the land and are located mainly in arid areas. Long-term monitoring of these factors along with the mobility of sands dune in different areas can have a significant effect on reducing their adverse effects. The study area, Sirjan desert, is located in Kerman province. For this purpose, the hourly data of wind speed, dust phenomenon code, rainfall and air temperature of Sirjan synoptic station were used in the statistical period of 2011 to 2020. Rainfall and temperature data were used to calculate the amount of evapotranspiration by the Torrent White method. After calculating the percentage of erosive winds and drought index, the mobility status of sand dunes in the area was investigated using the Lancaster index. Sensitivity analysis test was used to predict the effect of possible change of climatic factors on the mobility of moving sand dunes. About 90% of the statistical years were at high risk of desertification in terms of climate. Accordingly, with decreasing the amount of UNEP drought index and increasing environmental drought, the mobility of sand dunes in the whole study area and the risk of desertification will increase. The annual Lancaster index values at this station indicate that the status of active sand dunes is only at the top of the sand dunes. Based on the sensitivity analysis, it was found that if the frequency of erosive winds and evapotranspiration increases by 30%, the activity of sand dunes will increase by 69%. In other words, the active state of just at the top of the sand dines will change to the active sand dune state. Due to the combined reduction of the two mentioned parameters by the same amount, the activity of sand dunes will decrease by 51% and will change from active only at the top of the sand dunes to inactive.
Authors and Affiliations
Mahin Hanifehpour; Leila Biabani; Hassan Khosravi; Behrooz Akbarpoor Bonab
Keywords
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