Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 875-881.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.03.29

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Grain size characteristics of surface sediments in three low vertical sand barriers

QI Shuai1(),WANG Ji1,2(),DANG Xiaohong1,2,WEI Yajuan1,DING Fenqian1   

  1. 1. College of Desert Management, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Central and Local Key Laboratory of Wind and Sand Physics, Hohhot 010018, Inner Mongolia, China
    2. Inner Mongolia Hangjin Desert Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ordos 017400, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2020-07-03 Revised:2020-11-06 Online:2021-05-15 Published:2021-06-17
  • Contact: Ji WANG E-mail:1182843101@qq.com;wangji1957@163.com

Abstract:

This research examines the inner surface (0-2 cm) of three types of sand barriers (PLA, Salix, HDPE) of the same specifications that have been laid for three years in the south of Xingba Expressway in the Kubuqi Desert. The mechanical composition of the samples was measured using a laser particle size analyzer, and parameters, such as average particle size, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, and fractal dimension, were analyzed. The study area was dominated by medium and fine sand (77.83%-98.00%), and the content of clay and powder particles did not exceed 5%. The PLA and HDPE sand barriers at the bottom of the windward slope of the dunes were manifested by mild wind erosion, and the particle size was relatively coarse. However, from the bottom to the top of the slope, the size of the sand willow sand barrier gradually increased, and there was a change from sedimentation to wind erosion at the top of the slope. Overall, the sediments in the sand barrier were poorly sorted, the skewness developed toward positive or negative deviation, kurtosis developed toward sharpness, the fractal dimension was 1.94-2.20, and the dominant grain size changed to fine sand. The impact of different types of sand barriers on sediments was different. The distribution of sediment particles in the HDPE and PLA sand barriers was more extensive, while the sand willow sand barrier was relatively concentrated and refined. The optimization of particle composition was HDPE> Salix> PLA sand barrier.

Key words: low vertical sand barrier, windward slope, granularity characteristics, fractal dimension, Kubuqi Desert