Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 135-146.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.01.13

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of the wind-sand environment along the Tumshuk-Kunyu Desert Highway in the western Tarim Basin

WEI Jinming(),CHENG Jianjun(),MA Benteng   

  1. College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2023-08-17 Revised:2023-09-21 Online:2024-01-15 Published:2024-01-24

Abstract:

To find out the characteristics of the wind-sand environment along the under-construction Tumushuk-Kunyu desert highway, the wind-sand protection engineering practice was carried out based on the attributes of wind-sand elements along the desert highway. The wind-sand activity law along the highway was analyzed and summarized by a field survey, ERA5 wind speed data, and satellite image information. The annual average wind speed along the highway was 3.03-3.28 m·s-1, the average yearly sand wind speed was 5.85-6.10 m·s-1, and the annual sand wind frequency was 16.87%-21.41%. The sand-driving wind was concentrated in the spring and summer. April-August was the period with the highest frequency of sand-driving wind in a year. The easterly wind (NE, ENE, E, and ESE) was the main wind along the highway. The frequency of sand-driving wind in the south and west of the Mazatag Mountains was higher than in the north. The annual sediment DP along the line was 99.77-145.30 VU, which belongs to a low wind energy environment and medium variability. The volume and density of the sand dunes on the northern and southern sides of Mazartag Mountain were significantly different. The moving rate of dunes along the line was 1.19-3.69 m·a-1, which was a medium moving speed. There is a significant negative correlation between the moving rate and the vertical projection area of the dunes. The moving direction ranged from 171.76° to 192.53°, consistent with the RDD. The design of the sand control system in the north of Mt. Mazatagh was mainly based on the east, and the south should consider both the east and the west.

Key words: desert highway, wind conditions, drift potential, dune migration, Taklimakan Desert