Distribution of sand dunes in Iran

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Author

Assistant Professor, Desert Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Sand dune seas and dune fields or ergs are the results of the wind erosion process in the sedimentation phase, although they are also observed in the transport area. It is crucial to prepare a map of wind sediment dispersion in the country from the point of view of wind erosion, the challenge of fine dust, and the damages caused by their movement. So far, various statistics have been presented on the area of windy sand unevenness of the country. To study the distribution and other features of the country's sandstones, as well as to prepare spatial databases using digital images (Landsat, IRS, and Google Earth database), aerial photographs (1993-2003), and field operations, a new map of their distribution in 20 provinces of the country was determined. The results showed that the area of sand fields in the country is about 4.7 million hectares, which is the highest in Kerman province (1224512 hectares) and the lowest in Tehran province (73 hectares). Yalan or Lut with 1458320, Jazmourian with 566326 and Jan with 477880 hectares are the three largest sand dunes in the country, respectively. There are differences in the area of sands in the country.

Keywords

References

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Iran Nature
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 27
May and June 2021
Pages 37-44

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