Analysis of the morphometric characteristics of arrow sand dunes of Alhaji Maurorum in the west of Lut desert

Some areas of Iran have flat surfaces especially in the east and south east of the country. For this reason and other climatic factors, these areas have arid and semi-arid conditions. Low density of vegetation and flatness of surface lead these areas to be dominated by erosion and affected by wind processes. The rate of wind-induced erosion and the volume of blown sediments depend on wind characteristics such as speed, frequency and direction. Power of wind for moving particles depends on the particle size, especially lower than two millimeters. This research aims to assess the geomorphological characteristics of sand arrows on a kind of egetation (Alhaji Maurorum) in the west of Lut area. The research methods are descriptive and analytical, based on field work and library work. After determining the study area by using transects, some arrow sands were selected and their morphometric characteristics were measured. Then, using a shaker, the grain size of the collected samples was measured in the laboratory. The results show that there is a high correlation between the length of arrow sands and the elevation of vegetation. The correlation is about 99 percent of the meaningful level. Also, the results of granulometry show that all samples from head, middle and toe of arrow sands are not bigger than 250 microns. Finally, the coarse sands are more in the foot and in the middle of the arrow sands as cmpared to their head. In fact, in this part of the arrow sands, grain size is finer than in other parts.