Analysis of wind erosion and determination of sand movement direction in Khezrabad region

Wind erosion has high potential for damage, especially in arid region due to continuity and extent of erosion in time and space. Therefore, the damage to economic resources is impressive especially soil and vegetation. So, a comprehensive understanding of its formation, function, effects and affected areas is essential. This study was implemented for finding the source of wind erosion and sand movement direction in Khezrabad region, Yazd Province. In this study, Yazd synoptic station anemometer data was analyzed over a period of 15 years (2001-2015) using Sand Rose Graph 3.0, WD convert and Wrplot View. The results of the spatial analysis of data from the anemometer (wind rose) showed that the dominant wind direction of Khezrabad Plain is Western with 18.77 percentage of calm wind with speed less than a knots (0.54 meters per second). The results of the calculation and drawing Storm Rose provided based on wind erosion threshold velocity of 6.5 meters per second showed that erosive winds mainly blow from the West-North West (WNW) and North West (NW) and West winds (W) less frequency. According to Storm Rose drawn, the frequency of calm winds (less than 6.5 m/s) in the region is about 96%. This indicates that erosive wind include only about 4 percent of views. Storm Rose provided based on speed threshold showed that North-West (NW), South-West (SW) winds have the most Drift Potential (DP) respectively. The Resultant Drift Direction (RDD) is around 74 degree (Northeast).