The nature and possible origin of mega-dunes in Liwa, Ar Rub' Al Khali, UAE

El-Sayed, Mohamed I.

doi:10.1016/s0037-0738(00)00052-x

Cited by 38 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Secondly, increased climatic humidity during the early Holocene enabled lakes to develop and vegetation cover to partly stabilize the substrate, thereby restricting the availability of sediment for aeolian transport, limiting further dune construction, encouraging partial deflation in areas where the sand carrying capacity of the wind was undersaturated with respect to its potential, and encouraging the growth of non-aeolian regions. (El-Sayed, 1999, 2000.…”

Section: Quaternary Evolution Of the Rub' Al-khalimentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote sensing of spatial variability in aeolian dune and interdune morphology in the Rub’ Al-Khali, Saudi Arabia

Al-Masrahy

Mountney

2013

Aeolian Research

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The Rub' Al-Khali aeolian sand sea of south eastern Saudi Arabia -also known as the Empty Quarter -covers an area of 660,000 km² and is one of the largest sandy deserts in the world. The region is covered by the latest generation of public-release satellite imagery, which reveal spatially diverse dune patterns characterized by a varied range of dune types, the morphology, scale and orientation of which change systematically from central to marginal dune-field areas where non-aeolian subenvironments become dominant within the overall desert setting. Analysis of geomorphic relationships between dune and interdune sub-environments within 4 regions of the Rub' Al-Khali reveals predictable spatial changes in dune and interdune morphology, scale and orientation from the centre to the outer margins of dune fields. A quantitative approach is used to characterize the complexity present where large, morphologically complex and compound bedforms gradually give way to smaller and simpler bedform types at dune-field margins. Parameters describing bedform height, spacing, parent morphological type, bedform orientation, lee-slope expression, and wavelength and amplitude of along-crest sinuosity are recorded in a relational database, along with parameters describing interdune size (long-and short-axis dimensions), orientation, and style of connectivity. The spatial rate of change of morphology of aeolian sub-environments is described through a series of empirical relationships. Spatial changes in dune and interdune morphology have enabled the development of a model with which to propose an improved understanding of the sediment system state of the modern Rub' Al-Khali desert sedimentary system, whereby the generation of an aeolian sediment supply, its availability for aeolian transport and the sand transporting capacity of the wind are each reduced in dune-field margin areas.

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Section: Quaternary Evolution Of the Rub' Al-khalimentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote sensing of spatial variability in aeolian dune and interdune morphology in the Rub’ Al-Khali, Saudi Arabia

Al-Masrahy

Mountney

2013

Aeolian Research

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“…Some of the largest mega-barchans in the world are found in the Rub' Al Khali Desert (Blumberg, 2006). Other dune types in this region include star, linear, and various transitional forms (El-Sayed, 2000). Dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert consist of reversing mega-dunes developed from compound barchanoid megadunes (Dong et al, 2009).…”

Section: Data Software and Research Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial analysis of sand dunes with a new global topographic dataset: new approaches and opportunities

Hugenholtz

Barchyn

2010

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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On June 29, 2009, version 1 of the ASTER GDEM (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Refl ection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model) was made available at no cost or restrictions to users worldwide via electronic download. The ASTER GDEM provides expanded spatial coverage and better resolution than other global digital elevation models (DEMs). In this paper we demonstrate how the ASTER GDEM provides new opportunities for investigating large aeolian sand dunes in three-dimensions. Two dune-specifi c spatial analysis methods are presented to illustrate potential applications of these data for discriminating dune generations and quantifying spatial variations of sediment supply. Moreover, we review how existing and emerging fi elds of dune pattern analysis and simulation modeling will be able to make signifi cant advances through application of these data, potentially leading to future progress in studies of dune morphodynamics, environmental controls, and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

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“…Besler's (2002) work, cited by Schwämmle and Herrmann (2003), reports smaller barchans 'climbing' over the windward slope of larger compound or mega-barchans, a commonplace phenomenon also described by others (e.g. Wilson, 1972;McKee, 1979, figure 13C;El-Sayed, 2000). Notwithstanding the assertions of Schwämmle and Herrmann, there is no field evidence in Besler's paper or elsewhere of one dune 'passing through' another or of a dune emerging from the slip face of another.…”

Section: Field and Wind Tunnel Observationsmentioning

confidence: 77%