Analysis of Barchan morphology in the west of Loot desert using morphometric features

Abstract

In this article, we analyzed the morphology of barchans (crescentic sand dunes) using morphometric features of seven components of this landform in the west of the Loot desert near Pashoeyeh village. The components were height, width, length of the right side, length of the left side, length of the right wing, length of the left wing, length of the back slope, length of the slip face, width of the barchan, slope of the windward, slope of the slip face, and area of the barchan. These components were calculated and analyzed for all barchans. To do the calculations, we used the SPSS software. Also, topographic maps on the scales of 1:250000 and 1:50000, aerial photos and Google earth images were used. Barchan morphometry showed that, with a decrease of the slope, the elevation of the slip face reduces too. Our study also showed that the biggest barchan was the fifth one. The reason is the position and oldness of the biggest one. The smallest barchan was formed from a tributary of the main barkhan. It was young and had an asymmetric shape. Most of the barchans in the study area, because of topographic barriers on the right and the prevailing wind direction from north and north west, had asymmetric shapes, and their left arms were greater than their right arms. In terms of correlation, the components of barchans proved to be correlated by more than 95%. This suggests that the different parts of a bachan grow in harmony with one another in line with the wind direction in the area. Also, the size of a barchan is correlated to the growth rate of its components.

Keywords

• barchan
• morphometry
• pashouviyh village
• loot desert