Characteristics of wind-sand transportation along railways in the eastern fringe of the Taklimakan Desert and sand control system
Hongguang Dong, Jianjun Cheng, Benteng Ma, Yupeng Li, Yuanqing Chen
Abstract
Abstract This paper focuses on the Korla-Ruoqiang desert railway line, utilizing ERA5 (ERA5 is the fifth generation of ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) atmospheric reanalysis global climate data) wind data to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the wind energy environment along the line in all aspects, reveals the characteristics of wind-sand transport, and puts forward the countermeasures to prevent and control wind-sand disasters. The results of the study indicate that: (1) the wind-sand along the line mainly occurs in the spring and summer seasons, and the dominant sand-moving directions are easterly (ENE, E and NNE) and northeasterly (NE). (2) The average annual sand-moving wind speed ranges from 5.80 m/s to 7.25 m/s, and the annual frequency of sand-moving ranges from 11.99% to 37.26%. (3) The annual sand drift potential (DP) along the line ranges from 69.20 VU to 607.24 VU, with three types of wind energy environments: low, medium and high. The resultant drift potential (RDP) ranges from 45.52 VU to 547.49 VU, and the wind variability index (RDP/DP) is between 0.54 and 0.90. (4) The average sand transport quantity along the line ranges from 2.92 m³/m/a to 9.09 m³/m/a. Based on these results, we optimize the sand blocking, sand fixing and wind erosion prevention measures for different types of wind-sand environments, establish a scientific and efficient wind-sand protection and control system to solve the wind-sand problems and provide a scientific foundation for the prevention and control of wind-sand disasters along the line.