Estimation of Sand Dunes Movement in the Northern Part of Shaanxi Province, China

This investigation was conducted to estimate sand dune movement in Yulin and Jinbian areas of northern Shaanxi Province, China. Results indicate that total sand movement has been 24.433, 21.147 metric tons for Yulin and Jinbian, respectively. The mean sand dune movement equates to a rate of 4.61 and (3.99 m) per year, but average monthly sand dune movement rates were 1.152 and 0.997 m for the two locations respectively. The rates of movement occurred in Jul. followed by Jun., Aug. and Sep.. Rates of movement depend on wind velocity, dune height, and dune length and slope ratio. The study reveals that cultivated lands extended obliquely to the direction of sand dune movement are extremely affected severely by the movement, while cultivated land segments extending parallel to the direction of movement are not affected.