Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
This project analyzes the migration and stability of sand dunes in the Mesquite dune field in Death Valley National Park. Satellite and aerial images ranging from 1948 to 2022 were analyzed in ArcGIS Pro. Dune crests were traced across the field. The azimuth of each crest was calculated and dune orientations displayed in rose diagrams with comparisons to local wind data. Transverse, star, and barchan dunes were identified. The average azimuth for the main field , over an 80-year period, is 64° to 244° with a standard deviation of 87°. The average azimuth of fringe dunes is 42° to 222° with a standard deviation of 13°. This suggests a northwest or southeast wind orientation assuming transverse dune morphology. In Stovepipe Wells, located west 1.5 miles of the field, weather data indicate a predominantly south-southwest wind direction, which is consistent with prevailing winds funneled through mountain passes, but inconsistent with the orientation of transverse dunes. The wind speed average was 12.9 mph.. In Furnace Creek, located 17 miles south of the field, there is a predominant southeast wind direction, consistent with the strike of Death Valley. Seasonal wind changes exist at each location. Based on the data, the main body of the field, corresponding with the largest dunes, appears to be stable while the fringes are more susceptible to change in sand supply, orientation, and shape. Despite changes, the entire Mesquite field is currently at a state of equilibrium, located in a convergence of opposing and fluctuating wind directions.
Recommended Citation
Herberger, Jeffrey, "195-Death Valley Mesquite Sand Dunes Migration Patterns and Stability" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 51.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/51
195-Death Valley Mesquite Sand Dunes Migration Patterns and Stability
This project analyzes the migration and stability of sand dunes in the Mesquite dune field in Death Valley National Park. Satellite and aerial images ranging from 1948 to 2022 were analyzed in ArcGIS Pro. Dune crests were traced across the field. The azimuth of each crest was calculated and dune orientations displayed in rose diagrams with comparisons to local wind data. Transverse, star, and barchan dunes were identified. The average azimuth for the main field , over an 80-year period, is 64° to 244° with a standard deviation of 87°. The average azimuth of fringe dunes is 42° to 222° with a standard deviation of 13°. This suggests a northwest or southeast wind orientation assuming transverse dune morphology. In Stovepipe Wells, located west 1.5 miles of the field, weather data indicate a predominantly south-southwest wind direction, which is consistent with prevailing winds funneled through mountain passes, but inconsistent with the orientation of transverse dunes. The wind speed average was 12.9 mph.. In Furnace Creek, located 17 miles south of the field, there is a predominant southeast wind direction, consistent with the strike of Death Valley. Seasonal wind changes exist at each location. Based on the data, the main body of the field, corresponding with the largest dunes, appears to be stable while the fringes are more susceptible to change in sand supply, orientation, and shape. Despite changes, the entire Mesquite field is currently at a state of equilibrium, located in a convergence of opposing and fluctuating wind directions.