Wind and sand environment and spatial differentiation of sediment in the west desert of Yinshan Mountain in China

To investigate the regular patterns by wind and sand in low hilly basins, we analyzed the particle size, component end element and fractal variability of surface sediments, as well as the near-surface wind energy and sand transport potential, and determined the characteristics of their spatial differentiation in the desert west of Yinshan Mountain in China. The results showed that the regional dominant wind was mainly westerly and southwest wind, and the average annual average wind speed of sand wind was 6.56–7.62 m s –1 , the annual average drift potential of the sand wind was 359.99 VU, and the average annual value of synthetic drift potential was 204.46 VU, which classified region as a the middle-wind-energy environment with middle-wind-direction variability. Under the action of dominant wind, the particle size of dune sediment gradually refined from the northwest to the southeast and northeast, and the fractal dimension gradually increased. The sediments of Baiyinchagan Desert, Boketai Desert, and southern Yamaleike Desert dunes were fine (the average particle size was 0.191 mm), and the average fractal dimension value was 2.372; the Haili Desert and the northern Yamaleike Desert dunes was large (the average particle size was 0.212 mm), and the average fractal dimension was 2.327. At the same time, fed by the near source Gobi coarse sand, under the action of long-term wind and sand, the Haili and Yamaleike Deserts formed tall and stable crescent sand dunes and sand dune chains. The particle size end member indicated that the desert sediment was wind deposit, while the desert peripheral Gobi desert end member indicated that the type of sediment was wind deposit and river alluvial material formed under the combined action of wind and water, the heterogeneity of the Gobi outside the desert was significantly higher than the desert surface, which showed moderate spatial differentiation. The topography of low mountains and hilly basins affected near-surface sandstorm processes and the formation and evolution of sandstorm landforms.