Sand Movement patterns in the south of Iran

Abstract

Wind regime data from the Jask meteorological station from a 20-year statistical period (1985-2005) was analyzed<br />using the Fryberger method to investigate sand drift potential (DP) in this area. The resultant drift potential and<br />directional variability of wind were calculated and illustrated. Average annual sand DP was estimated to be 460<br />vector units (VU), and the sand flux is 51 m3/m.year. Therefore, in view of the wind's erosive power (calculated by<br />software using the Lettau-Lettau equation) and according to Fryberger's classification (1979), this area is categorized<br />as a high energy wind environment. Calculating DPt in different seasons showed that the strongest winds blow in<br />summer and winter (158.8 and 152.4 VU), and autumn had the lowest DP. In summer, the wind blows in a southsoutheast<br />pattern which differs from that of other seasons. Autumn also has the highest frequency of winds swifter<br />than threshold velocity. The unidirectional index (RDP/DPt) value is 0.08 for this region, which causes the formation<br />of transverse dunes (barkhanoid) from south-southeast to north-northwest.