Ebook: Physics of desertification

Deserts are parts of the Earth that receive little or no rain; 25 cm or less per year. The physical processes that act upon these parched lands are vastly different from those that shape the more humid parts of the terrestrial landmasses. In the desert, wind is a major agent of erosion and transportation. As the results of recent space missions have indicated, this is also true in the case of the planet Mars. Thus, our understanding of desert processes sheds light on fundamental planetary processes that may apply on any planetary body that is enveloped by a windy atmosphere. An understanding of the physical layout of arid lands, and the nature of processes that initiate changes therein is also fundamental to thoughtful utilization of these lands for the benefit of mankind. It is with this in mind that we prepared this book for publication. We believe that the collection of articles in this book will be useful to scientists who are interested in desert landforms and processes, and to planners of economic develop­ ment of arid lands. The book also serves as a guide for students as to the state of our knowledge in this field as well as to the topics that require additional research.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
Report on Workshop on Physics of Desertification....Pages 1-3
Desertification of Arid Lands....Pages 4-34
Wind Versus Water Erosion in the Context of Desertification....Pages 35-41
The United Nations Organization and the Issue of Desertification....Pages 42-51
The Impact of Desertification on Land Productivity in Sudan....Pages 52-58
Desertification Problems in a Humid Region....Pages 59-69
The Formation and Motion of Dunes and Sand Seas....Pages 70-93
Two-Dimensional Analysis of Dune Profile and the Effect of Grain Size on Sand Dune Morphology....Pages 94-108
Stabilization and Afforestation of Sand Dunes Through Biosaline Culture Technique....Pages 109-117
Some Aspects of Sand Stabilization in Egypt....Pages 118-126
Eco-Technique—Magic Formula for Reclaiming Desertified Semiarid Crop Land....Pages 127-140
Monitoring the Sand-Moving Desert Winds....Pages 141-158
Aeolian Activity as a Planetary Process....Pages 159-190
On the Reddening of Quartz Grains in Dune Sand....Pages 191-209
The Wind and Desertification Processes in the Saharo-Sahelian and Sahelian Regions....Pages 210-240
The Advance Mechanism of Longitudinal Dunes....Pages 241-250
Production of Dust....Pages 251-260
Soil Erosion by Wind: An Overview....Pages 261-273
Wind Erosion in the Interior Delta of the Niger in Mali....Pages 274-289
Aeolian Processes and Features at Amboy Lava Field, California....Pages 290-317
Aeolian Processes in the Environmental Wind Tunnel and in the Atmosphere....Pages 318-321
Threshold Velocities for Dust Production....Pages 322-326
Formation of Ripples, Dunes, and Antidunes in River Beds....Pages 327-343
Saltation Threshold Mechanics....Pages 344-360
Dust Production by Wind Erosion: Necessary Conditions and Estimates of Vertical Fluxes of Dust and Visibility Reduction by Dust....Pages 361-371
The Aeolian Wind Tunnel — Saltation Similitude....Pages 372-384
Shape and Dimensions of Dunes in Open Channel Flow....Pages 385-397
The Stability and Propagation of Sand Ripples and Dunes....Pages 398-434
Turbulent flow over Topography with Applications to Sand-Wave Development....Pages 435-461
Back Matter....Pages 463-473

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
Report on Workshop on Physics of Desertification....Pages 1-3
Desertification of Arid Lands....Pages 4-34
Wind Versus Water Erosion in the Context of Desertification....Pages 35-41
The United Nations Organization and the Issue of Desertification....Pages 42-51
The Impact of Desertification on Land Productivity in Sudan....Pages 52-58
Desertification Problems in a Humid Region....Pages 59-69
The Formation and Motion of Dunes and Sand Seas....Pages 70-93
Two-Dimensional Analysis of Dune Profile and the Effect of Grain Size on Sand Dune Morphology....Pages 94-108
Stabilization and Afforestation of Sand Dunes Through Biosaline Culture Technique....Pages 109-117
Some Aspects of Sand Stabilization in Egypt....Pages 118-126
Eco-Technique—Magic Formula for Reclaiming Desertified Semiarid Crop Land....Pages 127-140
Monitoring the Sand-Moving Desert Winds....Pages 141-158
Aeolian Activity as a Planetary Process....Pages 159-190
On the Reddening of Quartz Grains in Dune Sand....Pages 191-209
The Wind and Desertification Processes in the Saharo-Sahelian and Sahelian Regions....Pages 210-240
The Advance Mechanism of Longitudinal Dunes....Pages 241-250
Production of Dust....Pages 251-260
Soil Erosion by Wind: An Overview....Pages 261-273
Wind Erosion in the Interior Delta of the Niger in Mali....Pages 274-289
Aeolian Processes and Features at Amboy Lava Field, California....Pages 290-317
Aeolian Processes in the Environmental Wind Tunnel and in the Atmosphere....Pages 318-321
Threshold Velocities for Dust Production....Pages 322-326
Formation of Ripples, Dunes, and Antidunes in River Beds....Pages 327-343
Saltation Threshold Mechanics....Pages 344-360
Dust Production by Wind Erosion: Necessary Conditions and Estimates of Vertical Fluxes of Dust and Visibility Reduction by Dust....Pages 361-371
The Aeolian Wind Tunnel — Saltation Similitude....Pages 372-384
Shape and Dimensions of Dunes in Open Channel Flow....Pages 385-397
The Stability and Propagation of Sand Ripples and Dunes....Pages 398-434
Turbulent flow over Topography with Applications to Sand-Wave Development....Pages 435-461
Back Matter....Pages 463-473
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