Statistical Modeling of Morphological Parameters of Barchan Dunes

A wide variety of aeolian sand dunes are found in Chah Jam erg, in central part of IRAN, best known type of them are the barchan dunes, shaped in a crescent, which occur if the wind comes steadily from the same direction throughout the year and if there is not enough sand to cover the entire surface. Barchan dunes in studied area are moving to 20 m/year toward S-SW. Their speed is dependent on wind velocity, three dimensional morphology and interaction between them. In this study, morphological parameters of barchan dunes and their annual movement rate (from 1/4/2008 to 1/4/2009) have been measured. Then using regression analysis method, type and intensity of relationship between morphological parameters and movement rate have been reexamined. These relationships follow simple and multivariable liner, power and exponential relations. Finally, we represented the models, by using them, can easily assess annual movement rate of Barchan dunes.

Barchan, Chah Jam erg, Regression analysis, Morphological parameters