Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia)
This article is devoted to the study of the Quaternary aeolian sands of the boreal zone of north Asia. Using the example of the study reference sections of the Selenga Dauria (Western Transbaikalia), it was established that the activation of aeolian processes is determined by the complex interaction...
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2024-12-01
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| Series: | Quaternary |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/7/4/55 |
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| author | Nikolay Akulov Maria Rubtsova Varvara Akulova Yurii Ryzhov Maksim Smirnov |
| author_facet | Nikolay Akulov Maria Rubtsova Varvara Akulova Yurii Ryzhov Maksim Smirnov |
| author_sort | Nikolay Akulov |
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| description | This article is devoted to the study of the Quaternary aeolian sands of the boreal zone of north Asia. Using the example of the study reference sections of the Selenga Dauria (Western Transbaikalia), it was established that the activation of aeolian processes is determined by the complex interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors. Natural factors include neotectonic movements; wide distribution of alluvial and lacustrine-alluvial deposits; a sharply continental semi-arid climate; and forest-steppe and steppe vegetation. Among the anthropogenic factors, the leading ones are deforestation, plowing of land and construction of new settlements, roads and other line structures. The obtained radiocarbon dating of buried soils and coal from ancient fire pits indicates the activation of aeolian processes during the Holocene. The main sources for aeolian transport (winnowing) are sands located in the areas of river and lake beaches, floodplains and river terraces. Almost all aeolian sands of the boreal zone were formed as a result of short-range wind transport. They form mini-deserts unfixed by vegetation, with active aeolian processes, dunes, barkhans and deflationary basins. Aeolian swells and blowout basins characterize aeolian landscapes weakly fixed by vegetation. It is noted that aeolian deposits of the boreal zone of north Asia, in contrast to similar sands of the subtropical and tropic zones, consist of coarser-grained material. Medium- and fine-grained sands dominate their composition, which is polymineral and well-sorted. In subtropical and tropical deserts, they are predominantly monomineral, fine and fine-grained. At the same time, mainly minerals that are unstable to weathering (feldspars, plagioclases, pyroxenes and amphiboles) represent the mineralogical composition of the studied aeolian sands. Weathering-resistant minerals dominate the sands of classical deserts: quartz, leucoxene, ilmenite, epidote, zircon, garnets, tourmaline, rutile and others. Modern aeolian landscapes are a unique natural formation for the boreal zone of north Asia and can be successfully used for the development of ecotourism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4a3d30fb2404de785e01de105ce8fc4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-550X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Quaternary |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4a3d30fb2404de785e01de105ce8fc42024-12-27T14:49:52ZengMDPI AGQuaternary2571-550X2024-12-01745510.3390/quat7040055Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia)Nikolay Akulov0Maria Rubtsova1Varvara Akulova2Yurii Ryzhov3Maksim Smirnov4Institute of the Earth’s Crust SB RAS, Str. Lermontova, 128, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaInstitute of the Earth’s Crust SB RAS, Str. Lermontova, 128, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaInstitute of the Earth’s Crust SB RAS, Str. Lermontova, 128, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaInstitute of the Earth’s Crust SB RAS, Str. Lermontova, 128, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaInstitute of the Earth’s Crust SB RAS, Str. Lermontova, 128, 664033 Irkutsk, RussiaThis article is devoted to the study of the Quaternary aeolian sands of the boreal zone of north Asia. Using the example of the study reference sections of the Selenga Dauria (Western Transbaikalia), it was established that the activation of aeolian processes is determined by the complex interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors. Natural factors include neotectonic movements; wide distribution of alluvial and lacustrine-alluvial deposits; a sharply continental semi-arid climate; and forest-steppe and steppe vegetation. Among the anthropogenic factors, the leading ones are deforestation, plowing of land and construction of new settlements, roads and other line structures. The obtained radiocarbon dating of buried soils and coal from ancient fire pits indicates the activation of aeolian processes during the Holocene. The main sources for aeolian transport (winnowing) are sands located in the areas of river and lake beaches, floodplains and river terraces. Almost all aeolian sands of the boreal zone were formed as a result of short-range wind transport. They form mini-deserts unfixed by vegetation, with active aeolian processes, dunes, barkhans and deflationary basins. Aeolian swells and blowout basins characterize aeolian landscapes weakly fixed by vegetation. It is noted that aeolian deposits of the boreal zone of north Asia, in contrast to similar sands of the subtropical and tropic zones, consist of coarser-grained material. Medium- and fine-grained sands dominate their composition, which is polymineral and well-sorted. In subtropical and tropical deserts, they are predominantly monomineral, fine and fine-grained. At the same time, mainly minerals that are unstable to weathering (feldspars, plagioclases, pyroxenes and amphiboles) represent the mineralogical composition of the studied aeolian sands. Weathering-resistant minerals dominate the sands of classical deserts: quartz, leucoxene, ilmenite, epidote, zircon, garnets, tourmaline, rutile and others. Modern aeolian landscapes are a unique natural formation for the boreal zone of north Asia and can be successfully used for the development of ecotourism.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/7/4/55aeolian sandparabolic dunedeflationdesertificationdesertTransbaikalia |
| spellingShingle | Nikolay Akulov Maria Rubtsova Varvara Akulova Yurii Ryzhov Maksim Smirnov Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia) Quaternary aeolian sand parabolic dune deflation desertification desert Transbaikalia |
| title | Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia) |
| title_full | Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia) |
| title_fullStr | Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia) |
| title_short | Aeolian Sands of the Temperate Boreal Zone (Northern Asia) |
| title_sort | aeolian sands of the temperate boreal zone northern asia |
| topic | aeolian sand parabolic dune deflation desertification desert Transbaikalia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/7/4/55 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nikolayakulov aeoliansandsofthetemperateborealzonenorthernasia AT mariarubtsova aeoliansandsofthetemperateborealzonenorthernasia AT varvaraakulova aeoliansandsofthetemperateborealzonenorthernasia AT yuriiryzhov aeoliansandsofthetemperateborealzonenorthernasia AT maksimsmirnov aeoliansandsofthetemperateborealzonenorthernasia |