Aeolian geomorphology of the Namib Sand Sea

This review is concerned with the aeolian geomorphology of the Namib Sand Sea, part of the Namib Desert in Namibia, south-west Africa, concentrating in particular on studies made over the past 50 years. The paper covers: sand sea organisation and dune patterns; and the dynamics of individual dunes. It demonstrates that studies in the Namib Sand Sea have been important to a much wider understanding of the geomorphological development of global sand seas.     

The respiratory environment of the Namib Desert Golden Mole

We measured the partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂) in the interstitial gas surrounding the sand-swimming Namib moleEremitalpa granti namibensis. At a sand temperature of 26 °C, which produced a nearly maximal rate of oxygen consumption, thePO₂near the noses of the animals averaged only 0·9 kPa (6·7 Torr) below the level in the free atmosphere. High oxygen availability was a result of the notably low metabolic rate in the 20 g mammals and the dry, porous and metabolically inactive nature of dune sand. A mathematical model indicated that normal mammals weighing 200 g or more could comfortably exist completely encased in dune sand. We concluded that the moles' small size and low metabolic rate are not adaptations to hypoxia or hypercapnia underground but are probably related to low food availability and the energetic cost of foraging in their desert environment.     

Spectral properties, iron oxide content and provenance of Namib dune sands

This paper applies multispectral remote sensing techniques to map the Fe-oxide content over the entire Namib sand sea. Spectrometric analysis is applied to field samples to identify the reflectance properties of the dune sands which enable remotely sensed Fe-oxide mapping. The results indicate that the pattern of dune colour in the Namib sand sea arises from the mixing of at least two distinct sources of sand; a red component of high Fe-oxide content (present as a coating on the sand grains) which derives from the inland regions, particularly from major embayments into the Southern African escarpment; and a yellow coastal component of low Fe-oxide content which is brought into the area by northward-moving aeolian transport processes. These major provenances are separated by a mixing zone between 20 km and 90 km from the coast throughout the entire length of the sand sea. Previous workers have also recognised a third, fluvial, provenance, but the methodology applied here is not able to map this source as a distinct spectral component.     

The Evolution of the Morphological Framework of the Central Namib Desert, Namibia, Since the Early Cretaceous

The Central Namib Desert in Namibia is a hyper-arid area which was greatly affected by tectonic changes in the Early Cretaceous, associated with the opening up of the South Atlantic Ocean, continental fragmentation of West Gondwanaland and the movement of a major mantle plume (the Tristan Plume). These events led to the formation of a range of subvolcanic complexes – the so-called Damaraland Complexes – and to the deposition of flood basalts – the Etendeka Lavas. The Damaraland Complexes include some striking inselberg features of great size, including Erongo, Brandberg and Spitzkoppe. The Great Escarpment, which bounds the Central Namib to landward, is of uncertain age, but it appears to have experienced a substantial degree of erosion by the Late Cretaceous. The feature is rather less well developed and persistent in the Central Namib than elsewhere in southern Africa. It is probable that the Namib has been dry for much of the last 130 Ma, and there is evidence for aridity in the early Cretaceous and in the mid-Tertiary.     

Movement of a small slipfaceless dome dune in the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia

The migration of a small slipfaceless dome dune close to the northern edge of the Namib Sand Sea has been measured by topographic survey. The dune dimensions are 45-m wide and 1-m high with a volume of 551 m³ that has been calculated as the difference between the dune's surface elevation and an interdune surface extrapolated from measurements around the edge of the dune. The migration direction, 64°, and distance moved, 90 m, are measured against stakes set out in 1976. The dune has moved about 90 m between 1976 and 1999. This is an average linear migration rate of around 4 m year⁻¹, and is equivalent to an annual sand transport rate of about 1.2 tonnes m⁻¹ year⁻¹. The calculated total potential sand flow in this part of the Namib Desert is 119 tonnes m⁻¹ year⁻¹, and the resultant potential sand flow is 63 tonnes m⁻¹ year⁻¹. The dune migration is therefore about 1% of the total potential sandflow and 2% of the resultant indicating that dune migration is only a small part of total potential sand transport. The results suggest that small slipfaceless dome dunes are very inefficient at trapping sand, and that winds blowing across the interdune in this area are undersaturated with sand.     

Magnitude and frequency of grain flows on a desert sand dune

Preliminary studies of the magnitude and frequency of lee side avalanches (grain flows) on a Namib crescentic dune show that the frequency of grain flows for a given segment of the lee face is dependent on the wind speed and sand transport rate for the period preceding their initiation; and the magnitude of the flows as described by their area is inversely proportional to the interval between flows and thus wind speed and sand transport rates. These studies indicate the potential of using a simple digital video camera technique to document the magnitude, frequency and geometry of grain flows on desert sand dunes.     

Ensuring the future of the Namib's biodiversity: Ecological restoration as a key management response to a mining boom

The Namib Desert is an ancient desert on the west coast of southern Africa. The Namib has unique endemic biodiversity and scenic landscapes, with a major part contained in the Namib Naukluft Park and the adjacent Dorob National Park, together forming a major tourism attraction in Namibia. There are currently large exploration and mining developments in the central Namib, fuelled by rising global demand for uranium. Mining contributes significantly to the Namibian GDP, but through destruction of habitats and ecological processes, may cause environmental degradation and loss of ecosystem services. Additionally, Namibia stands to lose a significant part of the biological diversity that makes it unique. These direct impacts are occurring in the context of regional climatic changes that are predicted to have their own severe impacts on biodiversity. A number of tools exist to counter these impacts, among which ecological restoration is an important one. Yet the extent of the damage to ecological processes and functions of the Namib, the interactions with climate change and the mechanisms through which the impacts will occur are still not well known. There is thus a crucial need for a better understanding of these arid ecosystems and their response to disturbance, to devise better restoration techniques, and to inform decision makers about management options. This paper analyses the extent of the threats to the central Namib's ecosystems and biodiversity due to mining, identifies critical knowledge gaps for restoration, defines policy needs, and proposes a broad strategy which is intended to be a framework for research, planning and management for sustainable use of this unique desert.     

Short-term effects of shrub control on two different plant communities in Argentina

The aim of this work was to study the effect of controlling jarilla (Larreaspp.), nonforage shrubs for livestock, on two plant communities with different forage production in the arid mid-west of Argentina. Total vegetation cover, forage species cover and carrying capacity were determined during three growing seasons, for cleared and uncleared plots. At the end of the study, significant differences were found in theLarrea cuneifoliacommunity, where average forage species cover increased by 156% over the control, and greater carrying capacity (129%) was also obtained from the cleared treatment. No significant differences were found in theLarrea divaricatacommunity. Data lead us to recommend shrub control as an improvement practice only in areas with low forage species cover and poor carrying capacity.     

Ecology and spatial patterns of large-scale vegetation units within the central Namib Desert

This article offers a review of published knowledge and a new state-of-the-art analysis regarding the floristic composition, the functional composition and the plant communities found in the central Namib Desert. At the same time, this paper contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the plant species composition of the central Namib Desert and the prevailing environmental gradients, with an emphasis on diversity and ecology in space and time. This article builds on three thematic foci. The first focus (1) lies on the present knowledge of the composition and the characteristics of the flora. A comprehensive floristic database has been compiled based on all available sources. A second focus (2) lies on the characterization and spatial distribution of the vegetation units. Therefore, we created a new vegetation classification based on a unique vegetation-plot database (http://www.givd.info/ID/AF-00-007) and additional data summing up to 2000 relevés, resulting in 21 large-scale vegetation classes. Using a supervised classification approach based on the vegetation classification, remote sensing and environmental data, we were able to produce a new vegetation map of the Central Namib. This was updated using expert knowledge, field visits and through manual preprocessing. With the third focus (3) we explore the spatial patterns of the previous foci and discuss their relation to environmental parameters and gradients.     

干旱区沙漠化土地逆转植被的防风固沙效益研究

使用便携式防沙风速廓线测量仪和阶梯式集沙仪测定了单个植物的阻风作用以及不同恢复阶段植被内的近地面风速、输沙量;同时调查了不同恢复阶段植被的组成、覆盖度,土壤理化性质。结果表明,油蒿、沙蒿、柠条和花棒的个体空间构型分别是:沙蒿、花棒株型为疏散丛生型;柠条株型为中间丛生型;油蒿株型为紧密丛生型;近地面0~50 cm层的阻风阻沙作用效果由强到弱依次为油蒿>沙蒿>柠条>花棒。演替更新过程中,柠条、花棒、沙蒿逐渐衰退,到顶级群落阶段已完全从群落中退出,油蒿形成单一优势种顶级群落。由于优势种群的变化,从初始阶段→发展阶段→相对稳定阶段（顶级群落阶段）的演替更新过程中,近地面粗糙度从0.003 cm、6.039 cm增加到17.726 cm;在流动沙丘2 m高度风速为6.5 m·s-1时,相对稳定阶段没有出现风蚀,发展阶段输沙量只达到1.83 g·cm-1·h-1,占到初始阶段的3.2%。在3 m高度风速相同时,发展阶段近地面风速较初始阶段降低了54.29%,沙结皮厚度达到1~3 mm,所占面积比例达到91%,已经基本实现防风固沙;相对稳定阶段近地面风速较初始阶段降低了83.68%,沙结皮厚度达到5~6 mm,所占面积比例达到98%,完全实现防风固沙。     

科尔沁沙丘植物群落的TWINSPAN数量分析

本文采用国际通用软件TWINSPAN把科尔沁沙丘41个植物样方按盖度分成5组,每组代表1种沙丘植物群落类型。同时把17个植物种也分为5组,各组植物种从流动沙丘到固定沙丘出现的顺序为:Ⅴ→Ⅳ+Ⅰ→Ⅲ→Ⅱ。     

Overall efficiency of a V-shaped nylon net fence in preventing sand damage to the Mogao Grottoes

A V-shaped nylon net fence installed in 1990 on top of the Mogao Grottoes is shown to be effectively resisting aeolian sand damage to the grottoes. The structure guides and causes deposition of sand from westerly wind (the primary hard wind), but to some extent hinders the inverse function of easterly wind carrying sand away from the grottoes toward Mount Mingsha. The gobi side by the fence experiences higher wind speed, so that on which are easily formed undercutting pits, and the deposited sands on it generally form double-peak structures due to abundant sand sources. If the earth surface characteristics in gobi areas by both sides of the fence are quite varied, the erosion and deposition features of the accumulating sand section are similar in different seasons; however, if the earth surface characteristics are similar, the features become irregular in different seasons. Sand depositions with long slope feet are formed along the south and north sides of V-shaped nylon net fence. Disrupted by strong westerly wind and northwesterly wind, sand accumulations by north of the fence are in form of single peaks. Although the operation duration of the V-shaped nylon net fence has exceeded its design life (10 years), our observations indicate that it is still effective in reducing wind-driven sand damages to the Mogao Grottoes, so it should not be withdrawn.     

统万城的兴废与毛乌素沙地之变迁

通过史籍研究与实地考察,证实了统万城的兴废主要是由于人为的军事原因,同时也有自然环境演化的因素。统万城只是偏居毛乌素沙地一隅的人文活动的烙印,其兴废与整个毛乌素沙地并无直接的因果关系     

Evidence of aeolian sediment transport across an Ammophila arenaria‐dominated foredune,Mason Bay,Stewart Island

Aeolian sedimentation across an Ammophila arenaria‐dominated foredune was assessed for eight months using sand traps. This research aimed to ascertain if such foredunes act as a barrier to transport between beaches and hinterland dune systems. At Mason Bay, sand was transported across the foredune at rates of up to 10 kg.hour^?1per 100 m length of coast at wind velocities of 31 m.s^?1. Results were compared with computational fluid dynamics modelled airflows and foredune volume changes. Saltation was important for up to 17 m past the stoss face. Rates of transport were well short of rates of volume gain. Approximately 2% or less of stoss face suspended sediment transport reached the hinterland. The foredune is primarily a sand sink.     

Water availability in almond orchards on marl soils in southeast Spain: The role of evaporation and runoff

Clean sweeping (i.e., frequent and shallow tillage in orchards) is a common practice in semi-arid areas. A potential drawback in dry areas is that the tree roots cannot access the water in the plough layer. Our objective was to quantify the loss of water by evaporation and the loss or gain by overland flow in almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) orchards on loamy soils in southeast Spain. The evaporation from a 15 cm plough layer equals 70–104% of annual precipitation, taking into account losses or gains by overland flow. The large evaporation explains the low canopy cover observed, which averaged 3.2%. The runoff coefficient of the test sites is 1–6%. There is no drainage below 15 cm during dry years, except for an area that receives a net influx of overland flow. The trunk basal area in this depression is 12% larger compared to the rest of the field. The options for increasing the water intake of the trees are to reduce the tillage depth or to switch from clean sweeping to no-tillage combined with chemical weeding.     

A ‘mathematical’ spider living on gravel plains of the Namib Desert

In certain areas of the Namib gravel plains a new Ariadna sp. was discovered. It rims its vertical burrow with a stone circle, made on average of seven quartz stones. Some mathematical relationships between hole diameter, stone sizes and weight, and animal size were studied. A correlation was found, and stone selection by this spider postulated. Different hypotheses on the adaptive value of stone circle are suggested.     

布古里沙漠部分地区风沙环境特征分析

布古里沙漠位于喀什绿洲和叶尔羌河绿洲之间,具有独特的地貌特征和风沙环境特征。通过对布古里沙漠部分地区的气象资料分析和野外实地风沙观测,对其风沙环境特征进行了分析。结果表明：布古里沙漠的沙粒平均粒径是0.16 mm,起沙时间集中在每年的4～9月,风向主要是西北风和东北风,偏西北风略强;在2 m高处测量的裸露沙面起动风速的是3.0 m/s,植被覆盖率为7%,起动风速为5.2 m/s,植被覆盖率为14%,起动风速为6.8 m/s;当平均风速为6.7 m/s时,气流输运沙子主要在近地表面0～10 cm,,风沙流中含沙量随垂直高度呈指数衰减,给出了风沙流的含沙量随垂直高度分布的相关方程和参数。     

Mineralogical maturity in dunefields of North America, Africa and Australia

Studies of dunefields in central and western North America show that mineralogical maturity can provide new insights into the origin and evolution of aeolian sand bodies. Many of the world's great sand seas in Africa, Asia and Australia are quartz-dominated and thus can be considered to be mineralogically mature. The Algodones (California) and Parker (Arizona) dunes in the southwestern United States are also mature, but have inherited a high degree of mineralogical maturity from quartz-rich sedimentary rocks drained by the Colorado River. In Libya, sediments of the Zallaf sand sea, which are almost pure quartz, may have originated in a similar fashion. The Fort Morgan (Colorado) and Casper (Wyoming) dunefields in the central Great Plains of North America, and the Namib sand sea of southern Africa have an intermediate degree of mineralogical maturity because their sources are large rivers that drained both unweathered plutonic and metamorphic rocks and mature sedimentary rocks. Mojave Desert dunefields in the southwestern United States are quite immature because they are in basins adjacent to plutonic rocks that were their sources. Other dunefields in the Great Plains of North America (those in Nebraska and Texas) are more mature than any possible source sediments and therefore reflect mineralogical evolution over time. Such changes in composition can occur because of either of two opposing long-term states of the dunefield. In one state, dunes are stable for long periods of time and chemical weathering depletes feldspars and other weatherable minerals in the sediment body. In the other state, which is most likely for the Great Plains, abrasion and ballistic impacts deplete the carbonate minerals and feldspars because the dunes are active for longer periods than they are stable.     

重庆市区域规划电子沙盘系统的设计与实现

电子沙盘作为可交互操作的实时的虚拟现实环境,是一种既具有传统沙盘的特点,又集成了多种高新技术的产品。本文应用ArcGIS的内置定制环境VBA对ArcGIS应用程序进行客户化,设计并实现重庆市区域规划电子沙盘系统。该系统中,通过对基础地理数据、数字正射影像数据、社会经济统计数据、各种专题规划数据以及一些目标模型数据等进行三维可视化实现实物沙盘的导航缩放等基本功能。此外,通过二次开发定制扩充了面向区域规划的实用功能,如空间分析、规划方案的设计与比选等辅助规划功能,从而开拓了电子沙盘应用的新领域,将对区域规划工作带来深刻影响。     

Rainfall regulates decomposition of buried cellulose in the Namib Desert

Because of the aridity of the Namib Sand Sea, it has long been assumed that decomposition of buried plant material was largely independent of rainfall. Losses were attributed to consumption by detritivores that forage year-round. Moisture-limited micro-organisms were reported to occur in low densities in Namib sands, supporting the assumption that rainfall was insignificant in regulating decomposition. Observations of abundant macrofungal fruiting from buried plant material and herbivore dung, following a 12 mm rain, suggested the importance of rain-induced decomposition had been underestimated. We used cellulose substrates to compare material loss during dry periods and following differing amounts of rain. Strips of cotton cloth and filter paper, buried at 10 cm depths at five disjunct locations, were sequentially removed over 10 months. A period of at least 170 days elapsed before rains, ranging from 4–46 mm, fell at all locations. Material loss during the dry period averaged 8·2% (range 0–16·7%), and was attributed to macrodetritivore consumption. In marked contrast, an average of 84·1% of the material (range 64·7–97·2%) was lost following rains greater than 9 mm. Wet substrates were heavily colonized by fungi, and termites and tenebrionid beetle larvae were observed feeding on fungus-colonized substrates. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that rainfall, rather than duration of burial, was the primary factor determining substrate loss in the Namib Sand Sea. Although rain events are infrequent and ensuing periods of moist soil are brief, substrate loss following rains is highly significant relative to that occurring in the absence of rain. In contrast to more mesic deserts, rainfall is an important trigger of decomposition in the Namib Sand Sea where soils are too dry to support significant decomposition, except when episodically moistened by rain.