Æolian dust deposition rates, particle-sizes and contributions to soils along a transect in semi-arid New South Wales, Australia

The entrainment, transport and deposition of æolian dust are important processes affecting soil development at the margins of deserts. To assess accurately the impact of deposited æolian dust on soil development, it is important not only to measure total dust deposition rates, but to distinguish additions of remotely and regionally sourced dust from locally derived material as well (which should not be viewed as new soil material as it is derived from æolian re‐mobilization of an existing soil). Because of the well‐established relationship between dust particle‐size and distance travelled from source, the particle‐size distribution of deposited dusts can be used to identify the distance to probable source regions, in addition to identifying matching topsoil particle populations. Three dust traps were located along a transect of semi‐arid south‐eastern Australia, to measure æolian dust deposition rates between late 2000 and late 2001. The particle‐size distributions of selected dust deposits were measured and, with the aid of meteorological data, probable dust source regions determined. Particle‐size distributions of the topsoils at each dust trap location were also measured to determine if any dust and soil particle populations matched. Although the sampling period was relatively short, and there was relatively little dust storm activity in this part of Australia during this time, a clear pattern of diminishing total dust deposition was measured downwind along the south‐east dust path. Dust deposition rates were also moderate to low by global standards. Source regions of deposited dust were interpreted as being: (i) a combination of south‐western and local sources; (ii) a combination of north‐western and local sources; and (iii) a mixed source where dust was rained‐out. The relative importance of these sources was correlated strongly with seasonal weather conditions, although the proportion of local dust in each deposit was greater at the arid (western) end of the transect. The effects of deposited dust on soil profile development are greatest at the western and central transect locations. At the western location, a fine‐grained particle population distinctive of the south‐western and north‐western regional dusts and a coarse silt‐sized particle population characteristic of local dusts, are also present in the topsoil, altering the texture of this Arenosol derived from dune sand. At the central location, where a Calcisol has formed in lacustrine lunette sediment, local dust of the same size as the dominant silt population of the topsoil continues to be deposited, while minor topsoil populations of very fine‐grained silt match regional and long‐distance dusts deposited at the site. Deposited dust appears to have been a less important soil development factor at the more humid eastern site because of the much smaller rates of dust deposition there. Nevertheless, a minor population of very fine silt particles in the Vertisol topsoil matches long‐distance dusts deposited at the site, suggesting a small input of dust to this alluvial soil. The particle‐size methodology used here has applications in other studies of dust contributions to peri‐desert soils. In particular, particle‐size distribution ‘smoothness’ may provide an indication of whether soils have simple or complex origins.     

不同粒级组分碳酸盐与碳同位素分布特征及其对风尘物源的指示意义

在科尔沁沙地采集沙地表土样品16组,松嫩平原杜蒙沙地样品15组,同期还收集了城市道路表土样品10组,对各组样品进行粒度分级（全样、>63 μm、63~30 μm、30~11 μm和<11 μm）,分别测定碳酸盐含量和碳同位素组成。结果显示,不同区域不同性质样品各粒级组分碳酸盐含量的变化幅度不同,科尔沁沙地最小（0.8%）,其次为杜蒙沙地（1.9%）,道路表土最大（2.7%）。大部分杜蒙沙地样品（66.7%）和小部分科尔沁沙地样品（37.5%）以及全部道路表土样品的碳酸盐含量随粒度变细而增大,且变化模式各不相同。碳酸盐含量随粒度变细而增高是非匀速的,先是增幅较大（>63 μm→63~30 μm→30~11 μm）,后增幅较小（30~11 μm→<11 μm）。沙地样品碳酸盐含量与粒度的关系并不限于随粒度变细而增大这一种,风成砂和经历过强烈成壤作用改造的沙地样品中的碳酸盐含量与粒度的关系皆表现为随粒度变细而减小,沉积物中碳酸盐含量随粒径变细而增高是否是一种普遍规律还需要更多区域的更多样品来检验。大部分沙地样品和道路表土样品不同粒级组分的碳酸盐δ13C值变化范围较小（<1.8‰）,并表现出随粒度变细而趋于偏正的特征,但变化幅度很小。杜蒙沙地和科尔沁沙地碳酸盐含量的地区差异性极不明显,且各粒级组分碳酸盐含量的变化幅度大大超过了杜蒙沙地与科尔沁沙地的碳酸盐差异值,不能作为区分杜蒙沙地和科尔沁沙地风尘源区的示踪指标;而科尔沁沙地和杜蒙沙地碳酸盐δ13C组成存在明显差异（在63~30 μm粒级组分表现最为明显）,且不同粒级组分碳酸盐δ13C值差别较小,说明它是一个比碳酸盐含量更好的风尘源区示踪指标,但是不同粒级组分碳酸盐δ13C组成的差异会随离中国西部沙漠沙地风尘源区距离的加大或者风尘物质成壤作用的增强而变大,增加其风尘源区示踪的复杂性。     

典型城市环境空气中总悬浮颗粒物源项分析实例研究

采用回归分析和假设检验结合的方法,分采暖期和非采暖期对吉林省4个典型城市环境空气中总悬浮颗粒物和各类污染源中的无机组分进行了研究。结果表明:受体与污染源具有同源性。在采暖期,吉林市、白城市、通化市和四平市大气污染的主要来源是道路尘和土壤风沙尘,而建筑尘和煤灰对空气质量的影响较小;在非采暖期,4个城市的主要污染源分别是道路尘、土壤风沙尘和扬尘,而煤灰和建筑尘对4个城市空气质量的污染较小。研究结果有利于制定相应的大气颗粒物污染防治规划,以便提高污染防治的针对性、科学性和有效性,为大气污染防治规划提供科学依据。     

北京地区盐碱尘暴粉尘物质的主要来源

北京的"沙尘暴"在地质学研究分类中应属于尘暴,且属含大量盐碱物质(水溶盐物质)的盐碱尘暴。盐碱尘暴对人体健康和经济发展造成严重威胁,已引起普遍关注。通过调查北京尘暴源区蒙古国东南部和中国内蒙古中部、河北省西部地区表土和部分降尘的理化特性,为探讨北京盐碱尘暴粉尘物质的来源提供新的证据。对尘源区农耕地、沙化土地、退化草地、撂荒地、沙漠、沙地等不同代表性区域的表土进行较系统的采样,收集北京和部分尘源区附近城镇的大气降尘,分析其水溶盐和水溶性元素或离子的含量、酸碱度、粒度、比重、起尘风速。结果表明,干盐湖盆区以高百分含量的细微粉尘物质(200目)、水溶盐含量和部分水溶性元素或离子(如Na、Cl-)为主要特征,其较高的pH值、极小的粒径、很大的比表面积、偏小的比重、偏低的起尘风速等,与北京及尘源区附近城镇大气降尘的特性相对应,明显不同于沙漠、沙地、沙堆和农耕地、撂荒地、退化草地等,因此推测干盐湖盆区是现阶段北京盐碱尘暴最主要、最关键的源区之一。而水溶盐含量、粒度大小、酸碱度、比重、起尘风速等,是判断北京盐碱尘暴粉尘物质来源的关键性指标。     

Improved provenance tracing of Asian dust sources using rare earth elements and selected trace elements for palaeomonsoon studies on the eastern Tibetan Plateau

The Asian Monsoon forms an important part of the earth’s climate system, yet our understanding of the past interactions between its different sub-systems, the East Asian and Indian monsoons, and between monsoonal winds and other prevailing wind currents such as the Westerly jet, is limited, particularly in central Asia. This in turn affects our ability to develop climate models capable of accurately predicting future changes in atmospheric circulation patterns and monsoon intensities in Asia. Provenance studies of mineral dust deposited in terrestrial settings such as peat bogs can address this problem directly, by offering the possibility to examine past deposition rates and wind direction, and hence reconstruct past atmospheric circulation patterns. However, such studies are challenged by several issues, most importantly the identification of proxies that unambiguously distinguish between the different potential dust sources and that are independent of particle size. In addition, a single analytical method that is suitable for sample preparation of both dust source (i.e. desert sand, soil) and receptor (i.e. dust archive such as peat or soil profiles) material is desirable in order to minimize error propagation derived from the experimental and analytical work. Here, an improved geochemical framework of provenance tracers to study atmospheric circulation patterns and palaeomonsoon variability in central Asia is provided, by combining for the first time mineralogical as well as major and trace elemental (Sc, Y, Th and the rare earth elements) information on Chinese (central Chinese loess plateau, northern Qaidam basin and Taklamakan, Badain Juran and Tengger deserts), Indian (Thar desert) and Tibetan (eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau) dust sources.Quartz, feldspars and clay minerals are the major constituents of all studied sources, with highly variable calcite contents reflected in the CaO concentrations. Chinese and Tibetan dust sources are enriched in middle REE relative to the upper continental crust and average shale but the Thar desert has a REE signature distinctly different from all other dust sources. There are significant differences in major, trace and REE compositions between the coarse and fine fractions of the surface sands, with the finest <4 μm fraction enriched in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO, MgO and K₂O and the <32 μm fractions in Sc, Y, Th and the REE relative to the coarse fractions. The <4 μm fraction best represents the bulk REE geochemistry of the samples. The provenance tracers Y/∑REE, La/Er, La/Gd, Gd/Er, La/Yb, Y/Tb, Y/La, Y/Nd and to a certain extent the europium anomaly Eu/Eu^∗ (all REE normalized to post-Archean Australian shale, PAAS) are particle size-independent tracers, of which combinations of Y/∑REE, La/Yb, Y/Tb, Y/La and Eu/Eu^∗ can be used to distinguish the Thar desert, the Chinese deserts, the Chinese loess plateau and the Tibetan soils. Their independence upon grain size means that these tracers can be applied to the long-range provenance tracing of Asian dust even when only bulk samples are available in the source region. Combinations of La/Th, Y/Tb, Y/∑REE, Sc/La and Y/Er distinguish the Tibetan soils from the Chinese loess plateau and the Chinese deserts. La/Th and notably Th/∑REE isolate the signature of the Badain Juran desert and the combination of Sc/La and Y/Er that of the Taklamakan desert. The similarity in all trace and REE-based provenance tracers between the northern Qaidam basin and Tengger desert suggests that these two deposits may have a common aeolian source.     

Factors affecting the nature and rate of dust production from natural dune sands

This paper evaluates the influence of natural sand particle characteristics on the amount and particle-size distributions of dust produced by aeolian abrasion. It contrasts with previous studies of aeolian abrasion by conducting experiments using: (i) whole sand samples, as opposed to selected size fractions; (ii) natural, mature dune sands, rather than artificial or freshly crushed material; and (iii) weathered sands that have acquired a superficial clay coating, instead of grains with clean surfaces. Whilst previous research has found clear, positive relationships between particle size, sorting, roundness and the amount of dust produced by aeolian abrasion, the relationships determined in this study show some variation according to the geomorphological context from which the original samples were obtained. The most important factor affecting the amount and particle-size characteristics of the dust produced was the presence of a clay coating on the grain surface that is removed by the abrasion process. The dust produced by this mechanism had a modal size of 2–5  μ m and material <10  μ m comprised up to 90% of the particles produced.     

A wind tunnel simulation and field verification of desert dust deposition (Avdat Experimental Station, Negev Desert)

The deposition of natural dust in an area of 53 ha, situated in the northern Negev desert, is investigated in detail both in the wind tunnel (dust storm simulations over a topographic scale model) and in the field. The wind tunnel results and the field results show a high degree of agreement, indicating that scale-model simulation may be considered an important technique for future loess and desert research. More dust settles on windward slopes than on leeward slopes, which is in contradistinction with the widespread wind shadow concept. Air-flow separation zones immediately downwind of steep windward slopes have an important impact on dust deposition too. In the case of dust deposition on topographic scale models, a restricted height distortion of the model will not necessarily lead to serious problems. In addition, wind tunnel blockage percentages up to 13% may be allowed in order to obtain acceptable dust deposition patterns for the scale model. A mean gross dust deposition of about 200–250 g m^?2 year^?1 is calculated for the northern Negev desert for 1987. Thus, if the settled dust can be protected against erosion in the cultivated areas in the Negev, the dust content of the top soil will markedly increase with time. However, it has to be borne in mind that cultivation activities themselves may also contribute to a higher soil erosion and, hence, to a higher dust content in the atmosphere. At any rate, a higher dust content in the top soil will unquestionably have an important positive effect on agricultural yields. From the air dust concentration data and the dust deposition data, a deposition velocity of 4.7cms^?1 can be calculated for Avdat dust.     

The impact of natural ornamental limestone dust on swelling characteristics of high expansive soils

Expansive soils are considered as a potential natural hazard if they are not adequately treated. Expansive soils have high potential for shrinking and swelling under changing moisture conditions and cause extensive damages to engineering infrastructures. This study is concerned with the suitability of natural ornamental limestone dust to reduce the swelling characteristics of high expansive soils. The results are revealed that the swelling pressure and percent of heave are greatly decreased with increasing the inserted core diameters and mixing percentages of limestone dust. The average reduction percent values of swelling pressure and percent of heave are increased from 2.21% to 43.09% and from 2.56% to 45.64%, respectively, for treated soil samples with increase in limestone dust core diameters from 5 mm to 20 mm (1% to 16% of total soil area). The average reduction percent values of swelling pressure and heave percent are increased from 10.29% to 70.73% and from 22.29% to 82.90%, respectively, for treated soil samples with increase in limestone dust mixing percentages from 10% to 30%. The results are revealed that the enhancement in swelling characteristics of high expansive soils that are treated by ornamental limestone dust is mostly attributed to the replacement of high expansive fine clay particles by non-expansive and non-plastic coarse limestone dust particles, and to the presence of a considerable amount of free lime in limestone dust (4.97% as [Ca(OH)₂]) that is responsible for converting the high expansive soils to less expansive soils by pozzolanic reaction. The mixing treatment method is more suitable for surficial and shallow foundation high expansive soil beds, while the compacted limestone dust piles “inserted limestone dust core method” are more suitable for deep foundation high expansive soil beds.     

Use of satellite data and GIS for assessing the agricultural potentiality of the soils South Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Overpopulation and food security are the main global problems alert decision makers. In developing countries, such problem put extra pressure for horizontal expansion for agricultural development. The rapid sprawl of urbanized areas on the alluvial land of the River Nile and delta to accommodate the population growth has encouraged governmental and private sector for agricultural expansion in the desert. Unless there are reliable information and accurate studies for land and soil suitability, there will be a collapse of such investment. To evaluate the potential suitability of soil for agriculture development in areas of the western desert, satellite images, geographic information, and field survey including soil profiles and artesian water samples with laboratory analysis were integrated to classify the soils according their suitability for specific crop. The main land qualities of the different mapping units and the crop requirement were rated and matched to obtain the current and potential land suitability using Automated Land Evaluation System “ALES”. The study found that the main physiographic units are plateaus, hilland, mountain, and depression floor. But there are three limiting parameters for land suitability which are the lack of nutrient elements, wind erosion vulnerability, and soil texture. The study concluded that the best crops adapted with the soil conditions and could be feasible for economic use are: (1) native vegetation such as agol, sand trees, sammar, halfaa, bawaal, qordaob, bardi, and qortom; (2) filed crops such as onion, garlic, watermelon and wheat; and (3) fruits such as olive and date palms.     

荒漠地区生物土壤结皮的水文物理特征分析

通过室内压力陶土板系统测定土壤含水率与基质势的关系与Star-1土壤水分物理特征测定系统确定非饱和土壤水力传导度的方法,结合应用van Genuchten公式模拟,分析了位于腾格里沙漠东南缘包兰铁路沙坡头段人工生态防护体系生物土壤结皮的水文物理特征,确定了其水分特征曲线、非饱和土壤水力传导度、非饱和弥散系数,并与原始沙丘沙进行比较。结果表明,生物土壤结皮的持水能力是沙丘沙的3~9倍。当土壤基质势在-1~-3 000 cm的较高范围变化时,生物土壤结皮平均非饱和水力传导度低于沙丘沙(约为12%);而当土壤基质势在-3 000~-15 000 cm的较低范围变化时,沙丘沙的平均非饱和水力传导度又大大低于生物土壤结皮(约为91.0%)。正是由于生物土壤结皮特殊的质地与结构,使其非饱和水力传导度随着土壤基质势的降低,以及土壤含水量的减少,而趋于增大。与原始沙丘沙比较,生物土壤结皮独特的水文物理特点决定了它对荒漠地区土壤微生境的改善与促进作用,特别是通常情况下的高持水能力与低土壤基质势条件下的较高非饱和水力传导度,能够提高浅层土壤水分的有效性,有利于人工生态防护体系主要组分浅根系灌木、草本植物与小型土壤动物的生存繁衍。     

Potential of marble dust to stabilise red tropical soils for road construction

The potential of marble dust as a stabilizing additive to red tropical soils was evaluated. The evaluation involved the determination of the geotechnical properties of three different red tropical soils in their natural state as well as when mixed with varying proportions of marble dust. The parameters tested included the particle size distribution, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, the standard compaction characteristics, the compressive strength and the California bearing ratio (CBR). The strength tests were repeated after normal 28 day curing of the treated samples and also after accelerated 24 h curing at temperatures of 40°C, 60°C and 80°C.

Results showed that the geotechnical parameters of red tropical soils are improved substantially by the addition of marble dust; plasticity was reduced by 20 to 33% and strength and CBR increased by 30 to 46% and 27 to 55% respectively. The highest strength and CBR values were achieved at 8% marble dust. Results also showed that normal 28 day curing improved the strength of the marble dust-treated soil with over 80% strength gain achieved after 7 to 10 days of normal curing. Higher strength development was realised following accelerated 24 h curing at 60°C.

Although these results imply marked improvement in the geotechnical parameters of red tropical soils, the higher strength developed is not enough for the improved soil to be used as a base material in the construction of heavily trafficked flexible pavements. The improved material may, however, be successfully used as base material for lightly trafficked roads and as a sub-base material for heavily trafficked roads.     

沙尘暴形成史初步研究——中国沙漠几个典型地质学记录的实证

以位于沙漠黄土边界带的榆林、阿羌和米浪沟湾地层剖面为典型例证 ,讨论了 110 0kaBP以来中国沙漠沙尘暴的形成、发展和演化过程。提出在过去的 110 0ka中该区总共记录了 4 2个沙尘暴时期 ,并与 4 1个间沙尘暴时期构成比较连续且交替进行的一系列沉积演化历史。其中 ,最强烈的沙暴期发生时间大致在 6 2 0kaBP和 6 80kaBP前后 ,最温暖的间沙尘暴期出现在 5 90～ 5 0 0kaBP和15 0～ 70kaBP。研究认为 ,110 0kaBP以来因沙尘暴期与间沙尘暴期交替出现而形成的沉积旋回 ,是自那时以来在冰期、间冰期气候波动影响下冬夏古代季风相互对峙、交替演化形成气候旋回的结果     

Sand dunes as a major proximal dust source for late Pleistocene loess in the Negev Desert, Israel

Grain size analyses of three hilltop, primary eolian loess sequences in the Negev desert, southern Israel, show a bimodal grain-size distribution at 50-60 μm and 3-8 μm. Using analyses of mineralogy and OSL ages we demonstrate that the coarse mode is composed mostly of quartz grains and its relative magnitude increases regionally with time, suggesting an enhancement of a time-transgressive proximal dust source compared to a distal, Saharan fine-grain dust. The only proximal dust source for large amount of coarse silt quartz grains is the sands that advanced into Sinai and the Negev concurrently with the loess accretion during the late Pleistocene as a result of the exposure of the Mediterranean shelf. We therefore propose that the coarse silt quartz grains were formed through eolian abrasion within the margins of an advancing sand sea. This relationship between desert sand seas as a source for proximal coarse dust and desert margin loess deposits can be applicable to other worldwide deserts such as Northern Africa, China and Australia.     

Uncertainties in determining microbial biomass C using the chloroform fumigation–extraction method

We tested the accuracy of the chloroform fumigation–extraction method, which is commonly used to determine soil biomass C concentrations. Accurate and precise determination of total microbial biomass is important in order to characterize soil properties and to develop predictive metal transport models for soils. Two natural soils, and individual soil components, including silica sand, montmorillonite, kaolinite, a humic acid, and Bacillus subtilis bacterial cells, were fumigated for 24 h. Following the fumigation, C from fumigated and unfumigated samples was extracted using a 0.5 M K₂SO₄ solution. The difference between the C content in the fumigated and unfumigated samples ideally represents C due to biomass because the fumigation procedure should lyse cells and release biomass C. We observed increased C release upon fumigation for bacteria-only samples, confirming the ability of fumigation to lyse cells. There was no difference in extracted C concentration between fumigated and unfumigated samples of silica sand and of humic acid, confirming that the fumigation process does not introduce additional organic C to samples of these soil components. However, the fumigated clay samples both showed increased C release relative to the unfumigated controls, indicating that significant concentrations of the fumigant, chloroform, adsorbed onto the clay minerals studied here. Additionally, we found significant chloroform remaining in the extracts from two fumigated natural soils. Attempts to remove the chloroform from the soils or soil components prior to extraction by increasing the evacuation time, or to remove chloroform in the extracts by sparging them vigorously with nitrogen gas, both failed. This research reveals that chloroform gas may adsorb significantly to clays and the clay fraction of natural soils. Thus, the fumigation–extraction method must be corrected to account for the added chloroform C and accurately assess the concentration of biomass C in soils that contain significant concentrations of clays.     

Study of Sediments in the Yutian-Hotan Oasis, South Xinjiang, China

Based on investigation of sediments in the Yutian-Hotan Oasis at the southern margin of the Tarim basin, 14C ages and grain-size and chemical element analyses, the following views are put forward in this paper.(1) Sediments in the Yutian-Hotan Oasis are composed chiefly of "oasis soil", similar to the recent oasis soil, i.e. brown desert soil, which was formed due to pedogenesis after aeolian sand (sandy loam) and dust (loess) of 3.32-6.64 were deposited.(2) The ancient Yutian-Hotan Oasis represented by oasis soil was formed at 13000 a B.P. During the cold period of the past 13000 years, this region is characterized mainly by accumulation of sand and dust storms, and sandy oasis soil was developed in this region due to pedogenesis in an oasis environment; during the warm period, dust falls predominated along with certain current concomitants (lacustrine facies), and silty oasis soil was formed by pedogenesis. Owing to fluctuations of cold and warm climates since 13000 a B.P., sandy oasis soil was deposi     

中国海岸带晚更新世风成沉积分区、序列特征及其气候-环境意义

本文提出海岸风沙沉积和海岸风尘沉积是晚更新世期间，由东北季风风系控制的风沙流活动所成。每一期风沙流活动的时限不恒定，其盛行风向前缘随着风力衰减而产生风尘沉积，形成海岸风沙—海岸风尘沉积匹配带。中国海岸带自北而南可划分出四个海岸风沙—海岸风尘沉积匹配区。海岸风沙－海岸风尘沉积均具有多发、高频变化特征，与其中交互更叠的土壤层、冲－洪积层、侵蚀间断面等一起，可成为晚更新世期间气候－环境判别的标志。     

崩岗地貌发育的土体物理性质及其土壤侵蚀意义——以广东五华县莲塘岗崩岗为例

崩岗集中发育在我国广东、福建等东南7省(自治区),面积约5万km2,是华南地区土壤侵蚀最严重的区域.崩岗是水力—重力复合侵蚀交替作用的产物,也是沟谷侵蚀发展的结果.崩岗主要发育在花岗岩厚层风化壳上,崩岗土体以高黏粒、低砾石含量的粗砂土为基本特征.崩岗崩积锥土体粒径自坡顶至坡脚由粗变细,反映出坡面流水的侵蚀和搬运过程.崩岗土体可蚀性强,可蚀性因子K值平均为0.26,比花岗岩红壤地区的平均K值高0.03 ～ 0.05.崩积锥坡脚K值大于坡顶,即坡脚可蚀性大于坡顶.崩岗崩壁和崩积锥土体的平均黏粒含量为10.13％,大于5％这一泥石流形成的必要条件.崩岗流域地形陡峻,一旦遭遇强降雨,有条件转化成“泥石流”.崩岗形成的“泥石流”平均中值粒径仅为常规泥石流的1/12,砾石含量仅为1/4.因此,崩岗型泥石流(即由崩岗转化成的“泥石流”)并不是通常意义上的泥石流,是广义泥石流大类中的一个新种——泥砂流.     

Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China

The Sr and Nd isotopic, rare earth element (REE) and major element compositions, together with mineral and grain‐size proportions, are reported for aeolian loess deposits and desert sands from several Chinese localities. The study was carried out in order to examine regional variations in the isotopic and geochemical features of these aeolian sediments, and to constrain the provenance of Chinese loess. Samples include loesses from the Tarim and Junggar basins and desert sands from the Taklimakan desert in north‐west China, loess from the Ordos area and desert sands from the Tengger and Mu‐us deserts in north‐central China, as well as loess and desert sands from the Naiman area, north‐east China. REE distributions show minimal variation among the Chinese loess deposits, whereas those for the desert sands show regional variations. New isotopic data document a latitudinal variation in Sr and Nd isotopic features for the loesses and desert sands. The Naiman and Junggar loesses have distinctly lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and higher ε_Nd(0) values than the loesses from the Tarim Basin, the Ordos area and the Loess Plateau. Among the desert sands, the Naiman samples have higher ε_Nd(0) values than the Taklimakan, Tengger and Mu‐us samples. Isotopic data suggest that loesses of the Loess Plateau were supplied from the Tarim Basin loesses and Taklimakan Desert sand, and that the Naiman loesses were supplied from the Junggar Basin loesses. The latitudinal variation in the loesses and desert sands may be partly explained by isotopic variations reported previously for moraines from the Tianshan and west Kunlun Mountains, which are possible sources for the loesses and desert sands. These inferences on the provenance of the loesses and desert sands are consistent with the dust transport pattern over East Asia.     

Holocene desert soil formation under sodium salt influence in a playa-margin environment

A visually prominent desert soil with a horizon of clay accumulation (Typic Natrargid) has formed under an arid climate in Panamint Valley, California, in sandy, very calcareous, saline fan alluvium in less than about 3500 yr, and probably less than 2000 yr. Such soils can be used as stratigraphic markers, but could be confused with other desert soils with clay-accumulation horizons (Haplargids) which occur much more commonly on desert alluvial fans, are mostly late Pleistocene or older, and do not form in parent materials that are still calcareous. This Natrargid formed in a playa-margin environment, where clay for translocation and sodium salts that engender rapid clay movement probably were provided by dust fall.     

Variation of albedo to soil moisture for sand dunes and biological soil crusts in arid desert ecosystems

Surface albedo plays a crucial role in the energy balance of soils. The surface albedo and surface soil moisture of bare sand and biological soil crusts (BSCs) were concurrently observed on field plots of shifting sand dune and in revegetated desert ecosystems at Shapotou, northwestern China, to study relationships between surface albedo, solar elevation angle, and surface soil moisture. Results indicated that rainfall exerted a remarkable lowering effect on the variation of surface albedo by increasing surface soil moisture. Surface albedo was an exponential function of solar elevation angle, and the normalized surface albedo (solar elevation angle effect was removed) decreased exponentially with the increase of surface soil moisture. Sand surface had a higher albedo (0.266) than BSCs (0.226) when the surfaces were very dry. However, sand surface albedo became increasingly lower than that of BSCs when the surfaces were in wet conditions and when the soil moisture exceeded a critical value. The changes in soil surface albedo from sand dune to BSCs after revegetation in shallow soil profiles associated with the variation of the surface soil moisture can be seen as an indicator of the degree of sand dune stabilization when compared with the original shifting sand dune soil.