Abstract
Star dune is one typical kind of aeolian geomorphology in global sand seas. It has attracted scholars in various research fields for years because of its unique morphologic features like Egyptian pyramid. The landform pattern of star dune is mainly dominated by factors such as regional wind regime, sand availability, and local topography. Star dunes grow vertically as they accumulate sand brought in from different directions; however, little is known regarding morphologic changes during this process. The stability of star dunes based on quantitative data is another unsolved question due to the limitation in measuring equipment or other factors. And whether the star dune can grow into star sand hills is another scientific problem which needs to be discussed. In this paper, the heightening development process and morphological changes of star dunes were monitored in Mingsha Mountain of Dunhuang with the 3D laser scanner. Results show that the star dunes in Mingsha Mountain were formed by a group of relatively steady winds, which were northwest, northeast and south winds. With the increase of the height of the star dunes, the morphological parameters of the dune, such as the volume and bottom area, did not show regular changes. The surface erosion of both Dune 1 and Dune 2 during the observation period was closely related to the regional wind conditions. During the growth of the star dunes, the overall trend of the dunes was relatively steady and the dune shape maintained its stability although the aspect and slope of the sand dunes changed, indicating that the stability of star dune was not complete and was dynamic. Moreover, the variation range of the dune slope was proportional to the volume change of the dune.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
AN ZS, Zhang KC, Niu QH, et al. (2016) Short-term Dynamic Change of Mega-dunes around the Crescent Spring in Dunhuang. Arid Zone Res 33(5): 981–987. (in Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13866/j.azr.2016.05.10
An ZS, Zhang KC, Tan LH, et al. (2018) Dune dynamics in the southern edge of dunhuang oasis and implications for the oasis protection. J Mt Sci 15(10): 2172–2181. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:SDKB.0.2018-10-007
Andreotti B, Claudin P, Douady S (2002) Selection of dune shapes and velocities part 2: a two-dimensional modelling. Eur Phys J B 28(3): 341–352. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2002-00237-3
Bagnold RA (1941) The physics of wind blown sand and desert dunes. London: Methuen.
Blocken B, Hout AVD, Dekker J, et al. (2015) CFD simulation of wind flow over natural complex terrain: case study with validation by field measurements for ria de Ferrol, Galicia, Spain. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 147: 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2015.09.007
Breed CS, Grow T (1979) Morphology and distribution of dunes in sand seas observed by remote sensing. US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, pp. 253–302.
Delgado-Fernandez I, Jackson DWT, Cooper JAG, et al. (2013) Field characterization of three-dimensional lee-side airflow patterns under offshore winds at a beach-dune system. J Geophys Res Earth Surf 118(2): 706–721. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrf.20036
Dong Z, Zhang Z, Qian G, et al. (2013) Geomorphology of star dunes in the southern Kumtagh Desert, China: control factors and formation. Environ Earth Sci 69(1): 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1954-y
Elbelrhiti H, Claudin P, Andreotti B (2005) Field evidence for surface-wave-induced instability of sand dunes. Nature 437: 720–723. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04058
Fryberger SG, Dean G (1979) Dune Forms and Wind Regime, A Study of Global Sand Seas. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. pp 137–169.
Hanke KM, Moser RJII, Rampold P (2015) Historic photos and TLS data fusion for the 3D reconstruction of a monastery altar ensemble. Remote Sensing Spat. Info. Sci XL-5/W7, 201–206. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-XL-5-W7-201-2015
Isa MA, Lazoglu I (2017) Design and analysis of a 3d laser scanner. Measurement 111: 122–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2017.07.028
Jackson D, Cruz-Avero N, Smyth T, et al. (2013) 3D airflow modelling and dune migration patterns in an arid coastal dune field. J Coast Res 65(sp2): 1301–1306. https://doi.org/10.2112/SI65-220.1
Lancaster N (2010) The dynamics of star dunes: an example from the gran desierto, Mexico. Sedimentology 36(2): 273–289. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1989.tb00607.x
Lancaster N (1989) Star dunes. Prog Phys Geogr 13(1): 67–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/030913338901300105
Leng Y, Yong Y, Ouyang J, et al. (2006) 3D laser scan for terrain survey in model Yellow River. Proceedings of SPIE 6344(1): 634434–6. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.694437
Qu J, Ling Y, Zhang W, et al. (1992) Preliminary observation and study on the formation mechanism of star dune. J Desert Res 12(4): 20–28. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2021.00182
Rubin DM, Tsoar H, Blumberg DG (2008) A second look at western Sinai seif dunes and their lateral migration. Geomorphology 93(3–4): 335–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.03.004
Tan LH, Zhang WM, Bian K, et al. (2016) Numerical simulation of three-dimensional wind flow patterns over a star dune. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 159(7): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2016.10.005
Ulrike Rösner (1999) Aeolian geomorphology. An introduction. J Quaternary Sci 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1417(199902)14:1<97::AID-JQS368>3.0.CO;2-Y
Wang T, Zhang W, Dong Z, et al. (2005) The dynamic characteristics and migration of a pyramid dune. Sedimentology 52(3): 429–440. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2005.00696.x
Wasson RJ, Hyde R (1984) Factors determining desert dune type (reply). Nature 309: 92. https://doi.org/10.1038/309092a0
Xu SY, Xu DF (1983) A primary observation of aeolian sand deposits on eastern shore of the Qinghai Lake. J Desert Res 3(3): 11–17. (In Chinese)
Zhang D, Narteau C, Rozier O, et al. (2012) Morphology and dynamics of star dunes from numerical modelling. Nature Geosci 5(7): 463–467. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1503
Zhang WM, Qu JJ, Dong ZB, et al. (2000) The airflow field and dynamic processes of pyramid dunes. J Arid Environ 45(4): 357–368. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.2000.0643
Zhang WM, Qu JJ, Tan LH, et al. (2016) Environmental dynamics of a star dune. Geomorphology 27(3): 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.08.005
Zhu Z, Chen Z, Wu Z (1981) Study on Aeolian Sand Landforms of Taklimakan Desert. Science Press, Beijing. (In Chinese)
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.2020YFA0608403-1), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41871016), the Opening Research Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, CAS (KLDD-2020-015), and the Science and Technology Research Project of China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd. (2019-10).
We are grateful to Zhao Xueru and Wang Xiaobo for their technical assistance during the survey. Special thanks go to the reviewers and the editors for their helpful comments that have greatly improved the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
An, Zs., Zhang, Kc., Tan, Lh. et al. Morphologic changes of simple star dunes during the growth process in Dunhuang, China. J. Mt. Sci. 19, 1095–1106 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-021-6970-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-021-6970-5