Anthropogenic Interference in Aeolian Processes in Kerman Plain, Southeastern Iran

Sabrieh Shahbazi, Hamid Ganjaeian

Dry climate, poor vegetation and relatively smooth topography are the most important factors that brought about wind erosion processes prevail in the Kerman plain. Aeolian sediments in the Kerman plain can be divided into active and stabilized sediments.
Stabilized sediments show a cross-bedding structure and coarser-grained fluvial sediments are found between layers of aeolian sediments.
Obviously, wind erosion rate and volume of material transfer depends on characteristics of speed and direction also frequency of wind as well as surface and sediment characteristics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of tamarix plantation in aeolian processes and dust storm in the Kerman plain.
Winds speed and velocity characters and sand grain size analysis in order to determine the sand source areas in Kerman plain. The sand samples have been fitted with wind speed threshold and then combined and compared with indicator obtained in laboratory operations. Also dune morphology has been delineated using satellite imagery and aerial photos along with field work. Analysis of seasonal wind directions shows that the dominant winds in the Kerman area mainly blown in two major northern and western vector and play the main role in sediment transferring and dune morphology.