ISSN : 2663-2187

Dynamics of Barchans Dunes and Linear Dunes around the Oases of the Wādī Righ Valley (Lower Sahara, Algeria)

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Nezzar Abdelhamid, Boureboune Lamia
» doi: 10.33472/AFJBS.7.4.2025.471-491

Abstract

The movement of mobile dunes, particularly the Barchans and linear dunes, poses a persistent threat to the oases and infrastructure located upstream of the wādī Righ Valley. This phenomenon, intensified by spring sandstorms, especially Chergui winds, also affects herbaceous vegetation formations to the east of the valley, which are already significantly degraded. Furthermore, it compromises the integrity of national roads (NR 03, NR 16), communal roads, the Djamaa-Touggourt railway line, as well as the Sidi Slimane-Djamaa drainage canal. This region of the Lower Sahara in Algeria is particularly vulnerable due to a complex sediment budget and the convergence of two major wind regimes (easterly and northwesterly), which create complex sand dynamics. The study reveals that the barchans of Erg El Bassour exhibit an average mobility of 36 m/year towards the southwest (237°), with a peak of 15.8 m in three months during spring, accounting for 43.7% of the annual movement. Additionally, the linear dunes of Erg El Bassour and Erg El Sayah, while moving linearly at an average speed of 10.38 m/year towards the southwest, also move laterally at an average speed of 1.71 m/year towards the west, representing a greater danger due to the mass of sand transported. The impact of this dune dynamics results in increased sand encroachment on agricultural areas and infrastructure, leading to high desanding costs and threatening the ecological and socio-economic balance of the region.

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