Sand drift encroachment in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes District and its control |
| |
Authors: | Jianjun Qu Guangrong Dong Zixiang Wen Weimin Zhang Shixiong Hu |
| |
Institution: | (1) Institute of Desert Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, China;(2) Institute of Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China |
| |
Abstract: | Analysis on sand drift damages to the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes showed that the actual sand drift hazards in the area are mainly
attributed to the gobi wind-sand stream formed by sand coming from the Mingsha Mountain (megadune), while the migration of
the megadune and its frontal edge dunes is actually not a major threat to the grottoes. The gobi belt on the cliff top of
the Mogao Grottoes is not only a natural sand transport field but also a natural protective screen which prevents the megadune
and its frontal edge dunes from advancing towards the grottoes or burying the grottoes. Therefore efforts to protect the Mogao
Grottoes should be focussed on halting the gobi wind-sand stream rather than on checking the migration of sand dunes. For
this reason, effective sand blockade and stabilization measures should be adopted at the frontal edge of the megadune but
no sand retarding works are allowed to be set up in the gobi belt so as to avoid sand accumulation and entering the grottoes.
Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. |
| |
Keywords: | Mogao Grottoes gobi wind-sand stream sand dune migration |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |