Sand Movement patterns in the south of Iran

Wind regime data from the Jask meteorological station from a 20-year statistical period 1985-2005) was analyzed using the Fryberger method to investigate sand drift potential (DP) in this area. The resultant drift potential and directional variability of wind were calculated and illustrated. Average annual sand DP was estimated to be 460 vector units (VU), and the sand flux is 51 m3/m.year. Therefore, in view of the wind’s erosive power (calculated by software using the Lettau-Lettau equation) and according to Fryberger’s classification 1979), this area is categorized as a high energy wind environment. Calculating DPt in different seasons showed that the strongest winds blow in summer and winter (158.8 and 152.4 VU), and autumn had the lowest DP. In summer, the wind blows in a southsoutheast pattern which differs from that of other seasons. Autumn also has the highest frequency of winds swifter than threshold velocity. The unidirectional index (RDP/DPt) value is 0.08 for this region, which causes the formation of transverse dunes (barkhanoid) from south-southeast to north-northwest.