Eolian transport of salts—A case study in the area of Lake Ebinur (Xinjiang, Northwest China)

In the Ebinur region of Western Dzungaria, strong wind flows from Dzungarian Gate predetermine the widespread development of deflation processes. As a result of human-induced desiccation of Lake Ebinur, a new source of the loose material—the dry lakebed—has formed, which has intensified dust storms in this region. Annual dynamics of the frequency and intensity of dust storms and the amount and chemical composition of salts in the eolian material deposited in the area have been studied. The frequency of dust storms and the intensity of dust and salt deposition regularly decrease with an increase in the distance from the dry lake bottom (playa). The amount of dust deposition ranges from 600 (near the lake) to 70 (100–200 km from the lake) g/m²/a. The amount of salts precipitating with dust is mainly from 14 to 27 g/m²/a; the maximum registered amount of salt deposition is 77 g/m²/a. As shown in our study, the farther from the lake, the higher the portion of sulfate and calcium and the smaller the portion of chloride and sodium ions in the composition of salts.