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Arid Land Geography ›› 2023, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (10): 1680-1691.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2022.612

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of wind-sand environment and control measures of sand damage along Yuli-Qiemo Desert Highway

ZHENG Zhipeng(),MA Benteng,CHENG Jianjun(),WEI Jinming   

  1. College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2022-11-19 Revised:2022-12-18 Online:2023-10-25 Published:2023-11-10

Abstract:

The Yuli-Qiemo Desert Highway, through the Taklimakan Desert hinterland, can provide strong support to realize social stability and long-term security in Xinjiang, China. Wind and sand hazards are the main obstacles to the construction and opening of the Yuli-Qiemo Desert Highway, hence preventive and control measures are urgently needed to protect the highway. Based on ERA5 wind data, this study analyzed the wind energy environment along the Yuli-Qiemo Desert Highway, combined with remote sensing images to analyze the dune movement characteristics along the highway. In addition, the wind and sand hazards along the highway were systematically elaborated based on which the targeted wind and sand prevention and control measures were proposed for the highway. The following results were observed. (1) The annual average wind speed of sand ranged from 6.03 m·s-1 to 6.64 m·s-1, and the annual wind frequency ranged from 14.73% to 30.44%. (2) Sandy winds occurred mainly in spring and summer. The main direction of sandy wind is dominated by ENE and E. (3) The annual sand transport potential along the line ranges from 106.48 VU to 293.70 VU, with two types of wind environments, i.e., low and medium. The annual directional variability index ranges from 0.49 to 0.74, indicating a medium ratio, and the annual synthetic sand transport direction ranges between 213.48° and 255.94°. The seasonal sand transport potential in each direction is consistent with the frequency change of seasonal sand winds, and the directional variability index shows obvious seasonal change characteristics. The spatial and temporal variability of the wind energy environment causes the spatial variability of the dune movement rate. Under the action of sand-driving winds, different degrees of wind and sand hazards are suffered along the route. Therefore, targeted engineering and biological control measures are set up along the route according to the blocking-fixing principle. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental characteristics and hazards of wind and sand along the Yuli-Qiemo Desert Highway and provides a theoretical basis for the setup and subsequent improvement and optimization of the control measures along the highway.

Key words: sandy wind, sand transport potential, wind and sand hazards, prevention and control measures, desert highway