Kenneth Pye
Associates
Ltd.
Scientific Research,
Consultancy and Investigations
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Mapping and monitoring of dunes in northwestern Kuwait
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Abstract Al-Dousari, A.M. and Pye, K. (2005). Mapping and monitoring of dunes in northwestern Kuwait. Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering 32, 119-134. Aeolian dune dimensions and migration rates were analyzed along Al-Huwamiliyah - Al-Nimritayn zone area. Dunes that were currently mobile along the study area were dominantly composed of barchans. In this study we focused on monitoring and mapping dunes using aerial photos of 1972, 1992 and 1997 for 84 sand dunes. Also two barchans were monitored in the field for a period of 18 months that included two summers. Barchans in the study area were highly mobile, with an average migration rate of 24 m year-1, but there was a significant yearly variation. The migration rates for small dunes (< 40 m width) were found to depend on dune dimensions, i.e. the larger the dune was, the lower the migration rate was. But the size effect on larger dunes (> 40 m width) was limited. The dune distribution took forms, namely: belts, groups and isolated dunes, respectively from upwind to downwind. The sand dune distribution within the study area suggests the dunes were impacted by human interference especially by constructing sandy berms and gravel quarries. An examination of aerial photography for the sites within the dune corridor indicates that dune formation has been very rapid in recent years. Dune formation and movement were found to be quite variable. |
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