Sand Hill Studies, Case Study: Yazd University

Sand hills are deposits which are formed at hillsides of some hills and mountains of the desert and semi desert areas. Previously, Sand hills were known as the product of wind processes. New studies show that although the role of wind has the first importance degree in emergence of such phenomenon but other processes including hill side and water processes are involved in its development. How the formation and accumulation of wind material and then the involvement of other geomorphologic factors and processes, with a certain layers compaction of hill side and flowing material (alluvial), each one are considered as the indicators of the past climatic or environmental conditions. Since the importance of this phenomenon has not been considered in geomorphologic studies of natural geography of Iran, therefore the purpose of this paper is to study and review the significant features of this phenomenon and introducing it to natural geography society of Iran. The study of physical conditions, settlement shape and sediment structure of such phenomenon in different geographical situations enable us to access useful information such as direction and intensity of wind blowing, trend of climatic change, erosion condition in the area and even the impact of some tectonic events and hill side movements.For more description of this phenomenon, while summing up the library studies, some examples of field studies in Yazd province have been indicated.