Abstract: Aeolian sand transport is serious in many arid regions in the world, and it is considered to be as a significant part of global biogeochemical cycles. Furthermore, wind-blown sand brings often disasters. Therefore, widespread attention has been paid to the significance of aeolian sand transport in many fields, such as geomorphology, climatology, meteorology, ecology and environmental science. Wind-blown sand direction is a base for both studying the formation and evolution of aeolian geomorphology and carrying out the sand damage control measures. In this study, a statistical analysis on wind-blown sand direction in an oasis-desert ecotone in Qira County, located in the south marginal zone of the Tarim Basin, was carried out during the period from 2010 to 2011. Some preliminary conclusions are as follows: (1) In the study area, the wind directions of sand-driving wind are mainly W and WNW, and the change of wind direction is comparatively simple; (2) In the study area, the wind directions at which the values of sediment discharge are high are dominated by NW, WNW, W, SW and WSW, and the occurring frequency is as high as 68.3%. An aeolian sediment discharge of 96 kg passing through a height extent of 0-40 cm and 1-cm width occurred. The annual resultant wind-blown sand amount is 45.9 kg, and the resultant wind-blown sand direction is 102.5°; (3) In the study area, the wind-blown sand potential and resultant wind-blown sand potential are 43.2 VU and 31.04 VU respectively. There is a considerable difference between the direction of wind-blown sand potential and the measured sediment discharge. It is recognized that wind-blown sand is a complex process, and various factors affecting wind-blow sand, such as wind speed, wind direction and underlying surface, should be comprehensively considered and researched.

Key words: oasis-desert ecotone, sediment discharge, wind-blown sand direction, sand-driving wind, wind-blown sand potential, Qira County, Xinjiang