Stabilizes the dunes

2004/11/26 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Ekologia
• Geologia
• Hidrologia

The news has been published in the scientific journal Nature, where researchers discover the secret of the largest stable dunes in the world. So far no one knew why the desert dunes of the Jara Bay of China do not move, although they are in a dry and windy environment. In fact, the normal dunes like that of the image move due to the wind.

However, the researchers have discovered that under the surface of the dunes of the Jaran there is a lot of water. Just drill 20 cm to find the water and, if a hole of a meter is made in one of the sides of the dune, the water begins to filter, although it rises 17 m above the lake closest to the dune.

How is it possible? It seems that water comes from the scarcity, from the melted snow of the Qilian Mountains, 500 km away to the southeast of the desert. The water flows from the cracks of the rocks to the dunes. Around the dunes there are 72 lagoons and the dunes themselves contain a lot of water inside. According to the researchers, 500 million cubic meters of water annually pass through this area.

Shortly after meeting him, Chinese authorities begin to develop their plans of exploitation. However, the researchers have warned that the capture of water from the dunes can pose a danger, since in case of dryness of the dunes the risk of moving or destroying is run and the ecosystem will be severely affected.