Background,aim,and scope Yardang is a kind of typical wind-eroded landform in arid zones both on Earth and other planets.Their geomorphic process records the surface changes and climate,which may play a vital role in ...Background,aim,and scope Yardang is a kind of typical wind-eroded landform in arid zones both on Earth and other planets.Their geomorphic process records the surface changes and climate,which may play a vital role in exploring the coupled landform-atmosphere system in arid zones.Recently,significant progresses have been made in this research field,and a review is still absent,which is the aim of the paper.Materials and methods Previous studies on the distribution,composition,morphology,and climatic driving force of yardang landform were reviewed.Results Earth yardang’s three evolutionary models were generalized:morphology evolution model,altitude evolution model and climate driven evolution model.Extraterrestrial yardang and its evolution are also summarized:the morphology is dominated by long ridges on Venus and Titan,and three yardang evolution hypotheses and an indirect dating method based on stratigraphic contact have been studied on Mars.Discussion In this study,firstly,the definition and morphology of yardang were described to define its characteristics.Secondly,we argue that yardang evolution has two dimensions:short-term variation and longterm variation.In the short-term variation,the morphological evolution of yardang on earth can be divided into four stages:embryonic stage,juvenile stage,mature stage,and demise stage.In the long-term variation,the evolution of yardang on earth is climate-driven,i.e.,it is controlled by atmospheric circulation changes during glacial-interglacial periods.Thirdly,yardang research on extraterrestrial bodies was also summarized:yardang has been found on Mars,Venus,and Titan,and the research focus by far are on geomorphology only.Conclusions(1)Yardang landform is an erosion landform with alternating ridges and troughs,with main form of whale back shape and fluctuations in the range of aspect ratios;(2)the short-term variation of yardang is manifested in its morphological evolution and height change,while the long-term variation is climate-driven;(3)based on Earth yardang,extraterrestrial yardang research has been carried out on Mars,Venus,and Titan.Recommendations and perspectives We then proposed that:(1)yardang formation ages,due to the erosion characteristics,are difficult to constraint;(2)the wind erosion capacity in the yardang areas might have been severely underestimated,making it essential to re-evaluate the previous paleoclimate reconstruction in the closed basins with limited chronological data;(3)yardang evolution is driven by climate change,but the coupling relationship between the yardang geomorphy and the air circulation is still unclear.Finally,future research directions:(1)more chronological data are needed,as well as the wind erosion capacity for yardang initiation and development;(2)the co-evolution of mid-low latitude landforms involved in yardang long-term variation and its relationship with global atmospheric circulation.展开更多
Yardangs are typical aeolian erosion landforms,which are attracting more and more attention of geomorphologists and geologists for their various morphology and enigmatic formation mechanisms.In order to clarify the ae...Yardangs are typical aeolian erosion landforms,which are attracting more and more attention of geomorphologists and geologists for their various morphology and enigmatic formation mechanisms.In order to clarify the aeolian environments that influence the development of long-ridge yardangs in the northwestern Qaidam Basin of China,the present research investigated the winds by installing wind observation tower in the field.We found that the sand-driving winds mainly blow from the north-northwest,northwest and north,and occur the most frequent in summer,because the high temperature increases atmospheric instability and leads to downward momentum transfer and active local convection during these months.The annual drift potential and the ratio of resultant drift potential indicate that the study area pertains to a high-energy wind environment and a narrow unimodal wind regime.The wind energy decreases from northwest to southeast in the Qaidam Basin,with the northerly winds in the northwestern basin changing to more westerly in the southeastern basin.The strong and unidirectional wind regime for the long-ridge yardangs in the northwestern Qaidam Basin results from the combined effects of topographic obstacles such as the Altun Mountains and of the interaction between the air stream and the yardang bodies.Present study suggests that yardang evolution needs such strong and unidirectional winds in high-or intermediate-energy wind environments.This differs from sandy deserts or sandy lands,which usually develop at low-or intermediate-energy wind environments.Present study clarifies the wind regime corresponding to the long-ridge yardangs'development,and lays firm foundation to put forward the formation mechanisms for yardangs in the Qaidam Basin.展开更多
Yardangs are wind-eroded ridges usually observed in arid regions on Earth and other planets. Previous geomorphology studies of terrestrial yardang fields depended on satellite data and limited fieldwork. The geometry ...Yardangs are wind-eroded ridges usually observed in arid regions on Earth and other planets. Previous geomorphology studies of terrestrial yardang fields depended on satellite data and limited fieldwork. The geometry measurements of those yardangs based on satellite data are limited to the length, the width, and the spacing between the yardangs; elevations could not be studied due to the relatively low resolution of the satellite acquired elevation data, e.g. digital elevation models(DEMs). However, the elevation information(e.g. heights of the yardang surfaces) and related information(e.g. slope) of the yardangs are critical to understanding the characteristics and evolution of these aeolian features. Here we report a novel approach, using unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) to generate centimeterresolution orthomosaics and DEMs for the study of whaleback yardangs in Qaidam Basin, NW China. The ultra-high-resolution data provide new insights into the geomorphology characteristics and evolution of the whaleback yardangs in Qaidam Basin. These centimeter-resolution datasets also have important potential in:(1) high accuracy estimation of erosion volume;(2) modeling in very fine scale of wind dynamics related to yardang formation;(3) detailed comparative planetary geomorphology study for Mars, Venus, and Titan.展开更多
Dunhuang Yardang National Geo-park, situated in the Gansu Province of northwestern China （40°25′36″N-40°33′10″N, 93°00′00″E-93°13′30″E）, was chosen as a research locality of aesthetics ev...Dunhuang Yardang National Geo-park, situated in the Gansu Province of northwestern China （40°25′36″N-40°33′10″N, 93°00′00″E-93°13′30″E）, was chosen as a research locality of aesthetics evaluation of yardang landforms landscape. The yardang landforms landscape is a composite structural system of patch-corridor-matrix, with four landscape unit elements as dense group, sparse group, single body and remnant. The study of the landscape aesthetics spatial pattern of Dunhuang Yardang National Geo-park shows that yardang dense group, sparse group and single body provide the greatest contribution to the aesthetic value of yardang landforms landscape. Yardang bodies are scarce, unique, irreplaceable, and priceless resources in yardang landforms areas. However, they are easily destroyed under the influence of the natural and artificial factors. Therefore, when the tourism potential of yardang landforms landscape is exploited, the protection should be fully improved.展开更多
Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark Nestled in northwest China’s Gansu Province,Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark is a mesmerising fusion of extraordinary geological formations,rich history,and breathtaking desert landscapes...Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark Nestled in northwest China’s Gansu Province,Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark is a mesmerising fusion of extraordinary geological formations,rich history,and breathtaking desert landscapes.Spanning 2,180.75 square km,the geopark encompasses iconic sites such as the Yardang landforms,Mingsha Mountain(Singing Sand Dunes),and Crescent Spring,alongside cultural treasures like the Mogao Grottoes and various ancient Silk Road relics.展开更多
文摘Background,aim,and scope Yardang is a kind of typical wind-eroded landform in arid zones both on Earth and other planets.Their geomorphic process records the surface changes and climate,which may play a vital role in exploring the coupled landform-atmosphere system in arid zones.Recently,significant progresses have been made in this research field,and a review is still absent,which is the aim of the paper.Materials and methods Previous studies on the distribution,composition,morphology,and climatic driving force of yardang landform were reviewed.Results Earth yardang’s three evolutionary models were generalized:morphology evolution model,altitude evolution model and climate driven evolution model.Extraterrestrial yardang and its evolution are also summarized:the morphology is dominated by long ridges on Venus and Titan,and three yardang evolution hypotheses and an indirect dating method based on stratigraphic contact have been studied on Mars.Discussion In this study,firstly,the definition and morphology of yardang were described to define its characteristics.Secondly,we argue that yardang evolution has two dimensions:short-term variation and longterm variation.In the short-term variation,the morphological evolution of yardang on earth can be divided into four stages:embryonic stage,juvenile stage,mature stage,and demise stage.In the long-term variation,the evolution of yardang on earth is climate-driven,i.e.,it is controlled by atmospheric circulation changes during glacial-interglacial periods.Thirdly,yardang research on extraterrestrial bodies was also summarized:yardang has been found on Mars,Venus,and Titan,and the research focus by far are on geomorphology only.Conclusions(1)Yardang landform is an erosion landform with alternating ridges and troughs,with main form of whale back shape and fluctuations in the range of aspect ratios;(2)the short-term variation of yardang is manifested in its morphological evolution and height change,while the long-term variation is climate-driven;(3)based on Earth yardang,extraterrestrial yardang research has been carried out on Mars,Venus,and Titan.Recommendations and perspectives We then proposed that:(1)yardang formation ages,due to the erosion characteristics,are difficult to constraint;(2)the wind erosion capacity in the yardang areas might have been severely underestimated,making it essential to re-evaluate the previous paleoclimate reconstruction in the closed basins with limited chronological data;(3)yardang evolution is driven by climate change,but the coupling relationship between the yardang geomorphy and the air circulation is still unclear.Finally,future research directions:(1)more chronological data are needed,as well as the wind erosion capacity for yardang initiation and development;(2)the co-evolution of mid-low latitude landforms involved in yardang long-term variation and its relationship with global atmospheric circulation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41601005)the Key Laboratory of Education Ministry on Environment and Resources in Tibetan Plateau (2018-QHS-K08)
文摘Yardangs are typical aeolian erosion landforms,which are attracting more and more attention of geomorphologists and geologists for their various morphology and enigmatic formation mechanisms.In order to clarify the aeolian environments that influence the development of long-ridge yardangs in the northwestern Qaidam Basin of China,the present research investigated the winds by installing wind observation tower in the field.We found that the sand-driving winds mainly blow from the north-northwest,northwest and north,and occur the most frequent in summer,because the high temperature increases atmospheric instability and leads to downward momentum transfer and active local convection during these months.The annual drift potential and the ratio of resultant drift potential indicate that the study area pertains to a high-energy wind environment and a narrow unimodal wind regime.The wind energy decreases from northwest to southeast in the Qaidam Basin,with the northerly winds in the northwestern basin changing to more westerly in the southeastern basin.The strong and unidirectional wind regime for the long-ridge yardangs in the northwestern Qaidam Basin results from the combined effects of topographic obstacles such as the Altun Mountains and of the interaction between the air stream and the yardang bodies.Present study suggests that yardang evolution needs such strong and unidirectional winds in high-or intermediate-energy wind environments.This differs from sandy deserts or sandy lands,which usually develop at low-or intermediate-energy wind environments.Present study clarifies the wind regime corresponding to the long-ridge yardangs'development,and lays firm foundation to put forward the formation mechanisms for yardangs in the Qaidam Basin.
基金supported by the National Scientific Foundation of China (No. 41773061)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (Nos. CUGL160402, CUG2017G02 and CUGYCJH18-01)
文摘Yardangs are wind-eroded ridges usually observed in arid regions on Earth and other planets. Previous geomorphology studies of terrestrial yardang fields depended on satellite data and limited fieldwork. The geometry measurements of those yardangs based on satellite data are limited to the length, the width, and the spacing between the yardangs; elevations could not be studied due to the relatively low resolution of the satellite acquired elevation data, e.g. digital elevation models(DEMs). However, the elevation information(e.g. heights of the yardang surfaces) and related information(e.g. slope) of the yardangs are critical to understanding the characteristics and evolution of these aeolian features. Here we report a novel approach, using unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) to generate centimeterresolution orthomosaics and DEMs for the study of whaleback yardangs in Qaidam Basin, NW China. The ultra-high-resolution data provide new insights into the geomorphology characteristics and evolution of the whaleback yardangs in Qaidam Basin. These centimeter-resolution datasets also have important potential in:(1) high accuracy estimation of erosion volume;(2) modeling in very fine scale of wind dynamics related to yardang formation;(3) detailed comparative planetary geomorphology study for Mars, Venus, and Titan.
基金supported by fund project from professor for "Yangtze River Scholar" of the Ministry of Education(No.801813)
文摘Dunhuang Yardang National Geo-park, situated in the Gansu Province of northwestern China （40°25′36″N-40°33′10″N, 93°00′00″E-93°13′30″E）, was chosen as a research locality of aesthetics evaluation of yardang landforms landscape. The yardang landforms landscape is a composite structural system of patch-corridor-matrix, with four landscape unit elements as dense group, sparse group, single body and remnant. The study of the landscape aesthetics spatial pattern of Dunhuang Yardang National Geo-park shows that yardang dense group, sparse group and single body provide the greatest contribution to the aesthetic value of yardang landforms landscape. Yardang bodies are scarce, unique, irreplaceable, and priceless resources in yardang landforms areas. However, they are easily destroyed under the influence of the natural and artificial factors. Therefore, when the tourism potential of yardang landforms landscape is exploited, the protection should be fully improved.
文摘Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark Nestled in northwest China’s Gansu Province,Dunhuang UNESCO Global Geopark is a mesmerising fusion of extraordinary geological formations,rich history,and breathtaking desert landscapes.Spanning 2,180.75 square km,the geopark encompasses iconic sites such as the Yardang landforms,Mingsha Mountain(Singing Sand Dunes),and Crescent Spring,alongside cultural treasures like the Mogao Grottoes and various ancient Silk Road relics.
