Environmental Erosion Research Journal

The instability and mobility of sand dunes is a major concern of planning and management in arid coastal plains. The aim of this study is to identify morphogenetic characteristics of sand masses and their locations, as well as to identify the processes that formed and transported them in the western part of the Makran coastal plain. Research data and tools were including spatial distributions of landforms, the morphologic and stretch of sand dunes, sedimentologic characteristics including granolometric and morphoscopic indicators, the velocities and directions of winds, Geologic and topographic maps, satellite images, aerial photos and computer's software including ArcGIS, WRPLOT View and Gradistat. By using data from local meteorological stations, wind characteristics were studied and wind roses were plotted, also. Maps of Aeolian landforms and general morphology of sand masses were plotted by using aerial photographs, satellite images and field controls. Elongation of sand masses was investigated, too. The results indicate that from sediment sources aspect, Coastal Plain sand masses are divided to interior sand masses that are originated from removing plain surface and coastal sand masses that are originated from tidal ranges. Also, where removal landforms are widely absent, no interior masses were formed and only coastal sand masses and barriers were formed.