Dust storms loads analyses—Iraq

The dust storms that blow over Iraq were studied from December 2008 to March 2009. The total number of studied dust storms was eight; during each dust storm, samples were collected from the cities of Baghdad, Ramadi, Kut, Basra, Najaf, Karbala, Hilla and Tikrit. The climatic elements with the dust storms types were studied. The results of dust storms analyses reflect their increase in average toward the southwestern direction (average suspended, rising, regional dust storms were 8, 10, 15 days/year, respectively). The average means annual rainfall (in mm), evaporation (in mm), temperature (in °C), and relative humidity percentage indicate that there were remarkable variations in values, with increase of the number of days/years of the dust storms reflecting the effect of the regional climatic change. The results of particle size analyses indicate the texture of most samples range from sandy clayey silt (75%) and clayey sandy silt (25%), and the average dominant grain size have a direct relationship with trajectories of dust storms. Quartz grains were 15% rounded and 85% sub-rounded. Moreover, the dust samples were analyzed and identified by using XRD analyses and Polaroid microscope. The results reflect the following minerals according to their average relative dominant, quartz 58.6%, feldspars 17.3%, and calcite 15.4%, with small amount of gypsum 5.5%. The clay minerals (chlorite, illite, montmorillonite, palygorskite, and kaolinite) were recognized. The analyses of heavy minerals percentages by using the microscope were performed. The results of pollen distribution, in descending order, were Chenopodiaceous, Graminea, Pine, Artemisia, Palmae, Olea, and Typha (reaching 79%, 69%, 63%, 53%, 17%, 9%, and 7% of the counted pollen grains, respectively). The results of microorganisms (i.e., isolated bacteria and fungi), in descending order, were the gram-positive Bacillus species (42.9%), Aspergillus species plus Candida albicans (13.8%), and (8.4%), the gram-negative rods, Escherichia coli (9.5%), the gram-positive Cocci streptococcus pneumonia (6.7%), then the gram-negative rod Enterobacter cloacae (4.3%), Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus (3.9%) and (1.9%). The remaining Gram-negative microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.7%). Regarding the viral etiology, there is no viral isolate among the work results. The allergens commonly associated with dust storms include fungal spores, plant and grass pollens, and organic detritus represent agricultural area pollen grains.     

Evaluation of Sand Dunes Stabilization Techniques in Baiji District, Iraq

INTRODUCTIONAsandduneisanyaccumulationofsand grainsshapedintoamoundorridgebythewindunderthein fluenceofgravity .Sanddunesarecomparabletootherformsthatappearwhenafluidmovesoveraloosebed .Dunesarefoundwhereverloosesandiswindblown(Bagnold ,196 0 ) .MostofIraqianlandsareaffectedbywinderosion ,theformationandmovementofsanddunes ,particularlyinthemiddleandsouthofIraq .Thetotalareacoveredbysanddunesisapproximately 2mil lionshectares ,andthreatensmanyothermillionshectares (DougramejiandKaul,197…     

Abrasion-derived sediments under intensified winds at the latest Pleistocene leading edge of the advancing Sinai-Negev erg

Quaternary desert loess and sandstone-loessite relationships in the geological record raise questions regarding causes and mechanisms of silt formation and accretion. In the northern Sinai-Negev desert carbonate terrain, only sand abrasion in active erg could have produced the large quantities of quartzo-feldspathic silts constituting the late Quaternary northwestern Negev loess. In the continuum of source (medium to fine sand of dunes) to sink (silts in loess) the very fine sand is unaccounted for in the record. This weakens the sand abrasion model of silt formation as a global process. Here, we demonstrate that, as predicted by experiments, abrasion by advancing dunes generated large quantities of very fine sand (60-110 μm) deposited within the dune field and in close proximity downwind. This very fine sand was generated 13-11 ka, possibly synchronous with the Younger Dryas under gusty sand/dust storms in the southeastern Mediterranean and specifically in the northern Sinai-Negev erg. These very fine sands were washed down slope and filled small basins blocked by the advancing dunes; outside these sampling basins it is difficult to identify these sands as a distinct product. We conclude that ergs are mega-grinders of sand into very fine sand and silt under windy Quaternary and ancient aeolian desert environments.     

Dust fallout characteristics within global dust storm major trajectories

Satellite images from 2000 to 2010 were used to identify major dust trajectories within seven major deserts in the world. The fallen dust from these trajectories were collected and analyzed. The fallen dust rates tend to be lower downwind. The average samples of the world's fallen dust are negatively skewed trimodal with dominancy of silt size fractions (61 %). Most of the fallen dust within major dust trajectories is fining downwind. The fallen dust from the eastern zones (Taklimakan, Gobi, and Australian deserts) are characterized by higher percentages of feldspars and clay minerals, low carbonate content, and grain surface area in comparison to the Western zones (Sahara and Arabian deserts). The Western Sahara Desert dust is differentiated by the highest depositional rates and average quartz percentage (66 %). The dust samples in this zone contain low carbonates and grain surface area compared to dust from the Eastern Sahara Desert. The dust samples within Northern Arabia and Ethiopian-south Arabia zones show the highest average of carbonate amounts and grain surface area.     

Wind regimes and aeolian geomorphology in the western and southwestern Tengger Desert,NW China

Wind is the primary control on the formation of aeolian geomorphology. In this study, we combined wind regime data from automated weather stations in the western and southwestern Tengger Desert of the Inner Mongolia region in China with remote‐sensing data to analyse the relationship between the wind energy environment and aeolian geomorphology. Tengger Desert is one of the main dust storm sources in northwestern China. Therefore, efforts aimed at controlling desertification and dust storm require a deeper understanding of the processes that govern the formation and subsequent evolution of dunes in this area. Wind speed was largest in the northwest (3.3 m/s in the Xiqu station) and smallest in the southeast (1.2 m/s in the Haizitan station). Potential sand transport was also largest in the northwest (195 in the Jiahe station) and smallest in the southeast (33 in the Tumen station). The sand‐driving wind (5.92 m/s) directions were from the NW and SE quadrant across the study area, at >76% of all sand‐driving wind, reaching 99% in the Tumen station. The sand‐driving wind in the NW quadrant reached >48%, and in the SE quadrant, >12% of all sand‐driving wind in all stations. In the study area, sand dunes included crescent, dune networks, transverse, and coppice dunes. Dune crest directions had similar trends from upwind to downwind, at 133° in the middle region, and 124° in the southwestern region. Mean dune spacing changed with dune patterns; the maximum spacing for crescent dunes was 147 m, for dune networks 118 m, and for transverse dunes it was 77 m. The mean crest length was 124 m (maximum) for crescent dunes in the northwest, 121 m for transverse dunes, and 84 m for dune networks. However, because of gullies in the southern region, the mean crest length was only 58 m (least) for the crescent dunes in that area. The defect density ranged from 0.007 to 0.014. The spatial differences in dune patterns reflected the evolution of the dune field, where older dunes had been formed upwind and younger downwind. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy Mineral Placer Sand Deposits of Kontiagarh Area,Ganjam District,Orissa, India

The Kontiagarh placer deposit in the Ganjam district, Orissa, India extends in northeast direction having a width of 700–1000 m. A total of 187 samples were collected meterwise from 55 bore holes in a grid pattern from beach, frontal, intermediate and back dunes covering an area of approximately 1 km². Light minerals decrease in size from the beach to the back dunes, whereas the size distribution of heavy minerals in the beach and dunes is more or less uniform. The average heavy mineral content in the beach and dunes vary from 9.38% to 24.20%. The heavy minerals are ilmenite, garnet, sillimanite, rutile, monazite, and zircon with trace amounts of magnetite, hornblende, diopside, sphene, tourmaline, and epidote. Heavy minerals are mostly less than 350 µm in size, with a peak distribution in the range between 180 and 125 µm. Ilmenite shows exsolution intergrowth with hematite. Mineral chemistry of ilmenite, hematite, leucoxene, magnetite, monazite and sillimanite are examined by EPMA. Leucoxene is lower in Fe and higher in Ti, Al, Cr and V than ilmenite. The litho‐units of the Precambrian Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, comprising primarily khondalite, charnockite, calc‐silicate granulite and gneiss, are the source of heavy minerals for this deposit. The bulk sample has 7.30% ilmenite, 5.24% sillimanite, 9.16% garnet, 0.18% rutile, 0.14% monazite, 0.06% zircon and 0.52% other heavy minerals. The deposit has good potential for economic exploitation of ilmenite, rutile, sillimanite, monazite, zircon and garnet.     

Deflation processes and their role in desertification of the southern Pre-Balkhash deserts

Deflation processes are important in arid environments such as deserts. The deserts of Kazakhstan mostly cover lowlands and extend from the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea to the piedmonts of the Tien-Shan Mountain. Desert areas are also major source areas of dust/sand storm activities. We considered deflation processes in the southern Pre-Balkhash deserts. In Kazakhstan, desertification processes due to wind erosion in the form of dust/sand storms were observed in semi-desert and desert landscapes. During analysis of numerous long-term meteorological data and cartographic materials, we revealed the sand movement directions which allow prediction of future potential sand movement patterns or processes in southern Pre-Balkhash deserts. The Taukum, Moiynkum deserts, Ili river deltas and valleys, and southern coastal of Lake Balkhash are most prone to dust/sand storms. The most frequent storms were observed in the Bakanas weather station (Ile river valley). Sand/dust transport occurs mainly in the east, south-east north-east direction in the southern Pre-Balkhash deserts. The high amount of sand transportation was observed at the Kuigan weather station; low amounts were encountered at the Naimansuiek weather station. The amount of airborne sand/dust varies in accordance with the general and local meteorological features, the complexity of relief forms, soil conditions and properties, lithology, and various contributions of the human activities. Thus, our study on deflation processes in the southern Pre-Balkhash deserts has great importance towards aiding in the prediction and monitoring of dust/sand storms and movement patterns.     

The effects of oasis on aeolian deposition under different weather conditions: a case study at the southern margin of the Taklimakan desert

Heavy aeolian deposition is one of the most threatening natural hazards to oases in arid areas. How an oasis affects aeolian deposition is tightly related to the local ecological environments. To examine the effects of oasis on aeolian deposition under different weather conditions, monthly aeolian deposition from April 2008 to March 2009 and additional samples during dust storms in April and May 2008 were collected at four sites along the Qira oasis. The monthly ADRs (aeolian deposition rates) varied greatly with seasons and sites, ranging from 19.4 to 421.2 g/m²/month and averaging 198.8 g/m²/month. Aeolian deposition in the oasis was composed dominantly of sand and silt. Based on the variations of ADRs from the four sites, it can be found that the oasis exhibits two different effects on aeolian deposition under different weather conditions. During dust storms, the oasis demonstrates a significantly shielding effect due to the obstruction of the oasis-protection systems, resulting in most aeolian particles being deposited at the windward side of the oasis. While during non-dust storm periods with weak winds, the oasis exhibits an “attracting” effect on aeolian deposition, leading to a higher ADR inside the oasis. Owing to the annual ADR is dominated by the non-dust storm ADR in Qira, the oasis seems to become an important aeolian deposition area caused by the “attracting” effect of the oasis.     

Geochemical and mineralogical evidence for Sahara and Sahel dust additions to Quaternary soils on Lanzarote,eastern Canary Islands,Spain

Africa is the most important source of dust in the world today, and dust storms are frequent on the nearby Canary Islands. Previous workers have inferred that the Sahara is the most important source of dust to Canary Islands soils, with little contribution from the Sahel region. Soils overlying a late Quaternary basalt flow on Lanzarote, Canary Islands, contain, in addition to volcanic minerals, quartz and mica, exotic to the island’s bedrock. Kaolinite in the soils also likely has an exotic origin. Trace‐element geochemistry shows that the soils are derived from varying proportions of locally derived basalt and African dust. Major‐element geochemistry, clay mineralogy and interpretation of satellite imagery suggest that dust additions to the Canary Islands come not only from the Sahara Desert, but also from the Sahel region.     

苏北盆地TZK9孔磁性地层及重矿物组合特征研究

通过对苏北盆地TZK9孔的磁性地层和重矿物组合分析,探索了该地区晚上新世以来沉积物的物源变化特征。古地磁结果显示,TZK9孔的M/G界线位于250.3 m,B/M界线位于78.5 m,并很好记录了2次正极性亚时（Jaramillo和Olduvai）,分别位于129.0~150.2 m与172.55~192.80 m,通过沉积速率外推获得该钻孔的底界年龄约为3.0 Ma。对TZK9孔重矿物组合、特征指数进行分析,并结合淮河及长江下游的重矿物组合特征,揭示在距今3.0~2.6 Ma其沉积物主要来自于淮河流域。而相比晚上新世,第四纪的磷灰石、锆石、金红石、电气石含量增加,表明该地区开始受到了长江流域的影响,而第四纪以来重矿物特征指数（ZTR）逐渐增大可能主要受控于全球气候变化。      

Adsorption of copper(II) from aqueous solution by Beidellite

Dry lakes, degraded sandy grasslands, abandoned farmland and mobile dunes which are widely distributed throughout the arid areas of northern China have been investigated in this work. Gain-size distribution of the surface sediments of Manas lake in Junggar basin, Juyan lake in the Alxa plateau, Zhuye lake in Minqin basin and most deserts (such as Mu Us desert, Otindag desert, Horqin desert and Hulun Buir desert) in China have been analyzed. The results show clay with particle sized <10 μm on the surface sediments of dry lakebed and sandy grassland developed from dry lakebed, respectively, account for >60% and ∼50% of the total mass. Since the tiny particles on the surface of abandoned farmland are blown away easily and rapidly, the content of clay particles in Minqin basin is <14%. The grain-size distribution of mobile dunes in northern China mainly consists of particles >63 μm and few particles <10 μm. Consequently, although sand/dust storms originate primarily in the western deserts, the gobi areas of the Alxa plateau, the north and east of Hexi Corridor and in central Mongolia, the widely distributed dry lakebeds, sandy grasslands and abandoned farmland adjacent to the deserts also contribute to aeolian dusts. Hence, the material sources for sand dust storm in East Asia include inland deserts, but also dry lakes, sandy grasslands and abandoned farmland, which are widely distributed throughout the arid inlands of northern China.     

Mineralogy and palynology of the Mesopotamian plain sediments, Central Iraq

This work was done on the representative section (230 cm) in Dora site which located in Baghdad in the central of the Mesopotamian Plain. Eleven soil samples were examined mineralogically and palynologically. Grain size analyses showed that silt is the higher fraction (61%), clay is the least (9%), whereas sand forms 30%. Translucent and opaque heavy minerals contributed 57% from the sand fraction, whereas the light minerals formed just 43%. The type of heavy minerals and its maturity defined four provenances—they are granitic, basic igneous and metamorphic rocks—that belong to the high lands of south Turkey and north of Iraq. The fourth provenance is the sedimentary rocks which are located north of Mesopotamian Plain around the Tigris River and their tributaries. Dinoflagellate within thin bed of marine origin clearly indicated the transgression of the Arabian Sea northward through Tigris and Euphrates valleys or high marine waves reached to Baghdad before 10,000 years P.B. approximately. This means that the marine sediments were also an additional source of the Mesopotamian Plain. Three specific climatic features are identified via palynological interpretation; a temperate-wet climate extended from 10,000 to 5,000 years P.B. followed by dry period extended from 5,000 to 3,500 years P.B. and the last climatic feature is characterized by oscillation of wet to dry periods which is dominant since 3,500 till now.     

Regional characteristics of dust storms observed in the Alxa Plateau of China from 1961 to 2005

The Alxa Plateau has one of the highest frequencies of dust events in China and one of the greatest contributions to East Asian dust. We compiled climate and dust storm data for the Alxa Plateau based on observational data from ten meteorological stations from 1960 to 2005. Our analysis showed that Guaizihu and Minqin dust centers had >26 days per year with dust storms versus 7–13 days for other desert and Gobi regions on the plateau. Variations in dust storm frequency during the study period showed that dust storms increased during the 1960s (until 1972), decreased until the late 1990s, and then increased slightly until 2002. About 75.6% of dust storms occurred in March, April, May, June, and July. Between 78.2 and 88.1% of the dust storms occurred during the daytime and 28.9% of the dust storms occurred between 13:00 and 16:00. The mean durations of dust storms in the Alxa Plateau ranged from 715 to 3,462 min. The annual number of minutes of dust storms averaged >1,800 min in the western Alxa Plateau. Dust storm frequency was inversely related to duration: the longer the average duration, the lower the frequency of such storms.     

莫桑比克楠普拉省锆钛砂矿资源地质特征

莫桑比克是我国锆钛砂矿进口量最大的国家,楠普拉省锆钛砂矿项目是我国在莫桑比克、乃至非洲运营最成功的锆钛砂矿矿山项目之一,为境外锆钛砂矿项目提供可复制、可推广的经验。本文以莫桑比克楠普拉锆钛砂矿矿山多年的地质勘探和矿山工程等方面实践数据为基础,运用类比和统计学原理对矿山项目的地质特征、矿体特征、矿砂质量特征和矿物含量特征等进行研究。研究表明：(1)锆钛砂矿等重矿物主要赋存在第四系海岸砂丘(沙丘和滩涂)中,原矿砂中TiO₂和ZrO₂含量为0.77%和0.11%、中细粒占91.45%,锆钛砂矿矿物中粉细粒占82.84%～87.51%;(2)原矿砂中钛铁矿和金红石形态的钛元素分布率为88.14%和7.55%,锆英石形态的锆元素分布率为94.73%,原矿砂选矿试验可获得54.35%TiO₂的钛铁矿精矿和65.92%ZrO₂的锆英石精矿;(3)原矿砂中锆英石与钛铁矿的品位相关系数不低于0.92,锆钛砂矿品位与深度的相关系数不低于0.80,且随着深度增加先增大后减小,锆钛砂矿品位与矿体的厚度和宽度呈反比,相关系数...     

基于GRAPES的西北地区沙尘暴数值预报模式及其应用研究

介绍了中国气象局兰州干旱气象研究所和中国气象科学研究院数值预报研究中心合作研制的耦合于GRAPES（Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction Enhanced System）的沙尘暴数值模式GRAPES_SDM。该模式包括沙尘的起沙、传输、吸湿增长、并合、干沉降与云下清洗等详细的物理过程，可以对沙尘暴的起沙和空气中沙尘浓度进行模拟和预报。在此基础上形成了西北地区的沙尘暴数值预报模式系统，并于2005年4月开始在兰州中心气象台试运行，同时还将模式结果与卫星遥感资料反演的沙尘暴监测结果进行了对比验证。以2005年4月17~19日和5月28~29日发生在西北地区的2次强沙尘暴为例，利用GRAPES_SDM对这两次沙尘天气的起沙、传输、扩散直至消散进行了数值模拟。结果表明，模式输出的沙尘时空分布与实况观测和卫星云图监测的沙尘分布范围基本一致，说明该模式系统对西北地区沙尘暴天气的起沙、传输有较好的模拟和预报能力。     

全风化花岗岩孔径分布-颗粒组成-矿物成分变化特征及指标相关性分析

孔径分布、颗粒组成和矿物成分是全风化花岗岩微观和结构特征的3个主要方面,也是决定其工程地质性质的关键因素。理论研究和实际工程中,常用大、中小和微孔隙、角砾、砂粒和粉粘粒、三大矿物（石英、长石和粘土矿物）含量等指标表征这3方面的特征。3方面指标在一定范围上变化幅度多大？数值间相关性及作为土结构模型组份因子,它们相对权重多大？通过对香港九龙两处边坡51件全风化花岗岩试样压汞测试、颗粒分析和X射线衍射（XRD）等微观结构特征分析,结果表明：两处边坡粗粒和细粒结构全风化花岗岩有明显区别,前者主要属于砾石土和砂砾土,部分为含砾土,大孔隙多,石英和粘土矿物多,而后者部分属含砾土,部分为细砂土和亚砂土,微孔隙多,长石多;两者长石和粘土矿物含量变化正好相反。借助于多因素关系矩阵法,对3方面共9个指标作相关分析发现,相关性较好的指标是：角砾和砂粒 (0.948);大孔隙和微孔隙(0.846);石英和长石(0.827);长石和粘土矿物 (0.747)。从土结构因子角度考虑,权重从大到小指标是：微孔隙、长石、粘土矿物、砂粒、角砾、大孔隙、中小孔隙、粉粘粒和石英。其分析结果可为该类土微观结构特征细化及分类提供依据,为其微结构力学研究提供基础材料。     

Geochemical Information Indicating the Water Recharge to Lakes and Immovable Megadunes in the Badain Jaran Desert

1 Introduction The Badain Jaran Desert, located in western Inner Mongolia, China, has a unique landscape containing 144 lakes (72 of which are still watery) with a total water area of about 23 km2, and the world’s highest stationary sand dunes with a height between 200 m and 500 m. Much attention has been paid to the water recharge of the desert in the past decade. Investigations on the resources of water system there have been performed continuously since the early 1990s, which lead to th…     

0.44Ma以来南方风尘加积型红土物源分析:重矿物和碎屑锆石年代学证据

中亚热带地区的风尘加积型红土是中国南方第四纪环境研究的重要陆相沉积载体.许多典型剖面自0.4 Ma以来红化和网纹化程度明显减弱,气候趋于干凉,物源尚有近源、远源、远近混合源等说法.以九江地区JL剖面为研究对象,基于重矿物组成及碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学证据,重点探讨该沉积剖面第⑥～⑧层加积型红土(底界年龄0.44 Ma)物...     

基于地中渗透仪的入渗补给方式分析

文章通过在某均衡试验场地中的渗透仪上开展土壤水流穿透试验,分析灌溉水对地下水补给方式。试验结果表明:淹灌条件下,粉细砂扰动土中的穿透曲线为典型的单峰对称型,表明粉细砂中的土壤水通过活塞式入渗补给地下水;而亚粘土中的穿透曲线显示多峰、优先穿透、拖尾等现象,表明亚粘土中的土壤水以优势流方式补给地下水。通过对均衡场降水入渗补给的长观资料分析发现:在自然降雨条件下亚粘土中优势流明显,粉细砂中主要以活塞流为主。     

Synoptic analysis of dust storm over Arabian Peninsula: a case study on February 28, 2009

Sand and dust storms are causing hazards and problems in aviation as well as the dangers and distresses they cause on living things. The low meteorological visibility, the presence of strong winds with gust, and the transport of dust and sand particles by the wind are dangerous on landing and departure of aircrafts, and even on planes that are parked. The main aim of the study is to examine the meteorological conditions causing the dust storm that took place in the Arabian Peninsula on February 28, 2009, and to determine the source of dust caused dust storm, sand storm, blown sand, and blown dust at the airports. Within the scope of the study, aviation routine weather report (METAR) and aviation selected special weather report (SPECI) reports have been assessed at many airports over Arabian Peninsula (AP), the northern part of the AP and North Africa. As model outputs; NCEP–DOE Reanalysis 2 data, BSC–DREAM8B, and HYSPLIT model were used. In the satellite images; METEOSAT MSG dust RGB images, MODIS, and Kalpana-1 data were used. According to obtained results, dust storms were detected in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). At Al-Ahsa Airport in Saudi Arabia, the lowest visibility measured on February 28, 2009, dropping to 200 m, which was dominated by blowing sand. The source region of the dust observed at Dubai Airport in UAE is the eastern regions of the Rub’al Khali Desert located between Saudi Arabia, Oman, and UAE.