Analysis of the impact of wind characteristics on the dynamic and morphological state of sand dunes (Case study: sand dunes of the southern coast of Iran)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor in Geomorphology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Ph. D of geomorphology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Considering that sand dunes have active dynamics and can threaten human areas, this research has evaluated the dynamic status and morphology of sand dunes on the southern coast of Iran. In this research, Landsat satellite images, Google Earth images and statistical information related to the meteorological stations of the region have been used as the most important research data. The most important research tools have been ArcGIS, WRplot and Sandrose graph. In this research, first the morphometric status and morphology of the sand dunes have been investigated and then the characteristics of the winds in the region and their relationship with the dynamics and morphology of the sand dunes in the region have been evaluated. According to the results, there are about 2750 square kilometers of sand dunes in different forms on the southern coast of Iran, of which thin sand cover, medium sand cover and composite width have the largest area with 59.8, 10.9 and 7.3 percent of the total area of sand dunes in the region, respectively. Also, under the influence of the winds of the region, a large part of the sand dunes of southern Iran are in an active state, and considering that the correlation coefficient between the wind speed and DPt indices to the activity of the sand dunes in the region in the spring was 0.514 and 0.612, respectively, it can be said that the highest level of sand dune activity is related to the spring season.

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