Deflation processes and their role in desertification of the southern Pre-Balkhash deserts
Дата
2014Автор
Issanova, Gulnura
Abuduwaili, Jilili
Semenov, Oleg
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Deflation processes are important in arid environ
ments such as deserts. The deserts of Kazakhstan mostly cover
lowlands and extend from the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea
to the piedmonts of the Tien-Shan Mountain. Desert areas are
also major source areas of dust/sand storm activities. We
considered deflation processes in the southern Pre-Balkhash
deserts. In Kazakhstan, desertification processes due to wind
erosion in the form of dust/sand storms were observed in
semi-desert and desert landscapes. During analysis of numer
ous long-term meteorological data and cartographic materials,
we revealed the sand movement directions which allow pre
diction of future potential sand movement patterns or process
es in southern Pre-Balkhash deserts. The Taukum, Moiynkum
deserts, Ili river deltas and valleys, and southern coastal of
Lake Balkhash are most prone to dust/sand storms. The most
frequent storms were observed in the Bakanas weather station
(Ile river valley). Sand/dust transport occurs mainly in the
east, south-east north-east direction in the southern Pre-
Balkhash deserts. The high amount of sand transportation
was observed at the Kuigan weather station; low amounts
were encountered at the Naimansuiek weather station. The
amount of airborne sand/dust varies in accordance with the
general and local meteorological features, the complexity of
relief forms, soil conditions and properties, lithology, and
various contributions of the human activities. Thus, our study
on deflation processes in the southern Pre-Balkhash deserts has great importance towards aiding in the prediction and
monitoring of dust/sand storms and movement patterns.