Wind-sandy Environment and the Effects of Vegetation on Wind Breaking and Dune Fixation in Horqin Sandy Land, China

Horqin Sandy Land is located in northeast China (4241’-4515’N, 11835’-12330’E). The wind-sand topography in Horqin Sandy Land can be described as two series--sand deposition and wind erosion. Wind is the natural force for the formation of wind-sandy environment, under windsandy environment, the wind erosion processes such as sand drifting, dust-storm, etc. occurred frequently because of the frequent high wind speed and plenty of easy-eroded sand soil. To prevent wind erosion and fix the sand surface, several strategies are tested. Establishing vegetation on the sand dune is the most efficient method in reducing the wind speed and fixing the dune. The objective of this paper is to compare the sand transport rates, sand flow structures and the aerodynamic properties for the vegetation (planted) with the bare sand dunes.