Investigation of the Potential of Sedimentation in Geomorphologic Facies in Gonabad Township Using Wind Tunneland IRIFR1 Model

Aims & Backgrounds: Considering the fact that a large part of our country is in arid and semi-arid regions and every year wind erosion and dust storms cause significant damages to the country's bio-economic resources, it is necessary to study this phenomenon. This study investigated the erosion rate of geomorphological facies of Gonabad city in relation to wind erosion. Methodology: The wind erosion intensity was determined using wind tunnel and experimental model of IRIFR1. In the region, 17 facies were identified and mountainous and non-covered areas and areas that were not potentially dusty were excluded from the study. Sampling operations were performed on the remaining 14 facies. The samples were weighed and placed in a wind tunnel at 10 m / s for 10 minutes and then weighed again.The weight difference indicates the amount of wind erosion from a given level.Also in the IRIFR1 model 14 facies were weighted according to expert opinion. Findings: According to the results of wind tunnel, wind erosion in the study area was highest in sand dune facies and in low and high plains and relatively high water erosion was lowest and according to IRIFR1 model in sand dunes was highest and in low and high plains and low water erosion and high pebbles were the least. Wind erosion sensitivity map was prepared in the study area and divided into five classes of rock mass and non-erosion, very low sensitivity, low, medium and high sensitivity. Conclusion: Given that according to the analysis of samples in the wind tunnel, more than 28% of the area is in the medium to high sensitivity class, applying soil protection techniques against wind erosive power such as windbreakers, seeding and grazing reduction in these areas (especially the area Northwest) seems necessary.