CEPS Research

Mojave Desert

We are currently examining the distribution and history of vegetation-stabilized and active sand dunes in the Mojave Desert of southeastern California, USA. Field studies have shown that different plant populations inhabit sand of varying thickness (presumably related to the drainage properties of the sand and surrounding soils). We hope to demonstrate that some plant/sand associations can be detected and classified from orbital remote sensing data.

Some examples of field views of stabilized transverse dunes near the Cadiz Playa are given below.

Panoramic Mosaic (66k) of four slides taken from an isolated knob NE of the playa, panning from SE (left) to SW (right). May 6, 1990, 3:15 pm.

Transverse Dunes (26k) with a different (summer) plant assemblage, seen from the central summit of the knob used for the panorama. October 10, 1993, 9:15 am.

Panoramic Mosaic 2 (231k GIF) Reoccupation of photographic site at the central summit of a large knob northeast of Cadiz Playa. Mosaic of three photographs taken on May 23, 1995, 10:15am. Nick Lancaster and Vatche Tchakerian are on the small knob at right. (photo locaton: N34deg 19min 43.8 sec, W 115 deg 21 min 19.9 sec).

Transverse Dunes (93k GIF) Transverse dunes northeast of Cadiz Playa, May 23, 1995, 10:15 am. The interdune areas are covered with dry Russian thistle, much like the view of October 10, 1993, but very different from the view of May 6, 1990. These differences are likely related to variations in rainfall over the five years of photographic coverage. Close inspection of the dune locations in the photographs suggests relatively little dune movement during 1990-95.

Williams, S.H. and Zimbelman, J.R. (1994) Desert pavement evolution: An example of the role of sheetflood. J. Geol., 102:243-248.

Zimbelman, J.R., Williams, S.H. and Tchakerian, V.P. (1995) Sand Transport Paths in the Mojave Desert, Southwestern United States. in Desert Aeolian Processes (V.Tchakerian, Ed.),pp.101-129,Chapman and Hall Pub., New York.

Zimbelman, J.R. and Williams, S. H. (1996) Wind Streaks: Geological and Botanical Effects On Surface Albedo Contrast. Geomorphology, 17:167-185.

Revised: April 2, 2001 (jh) ©1994-2001 National Air and Space Museum