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A DUNE CATENA ON THE CLAY PLAINS OF THE WEST CENTRAL GEZIRA, REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN
Author(s) -
WILLIAMS M. A. J.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1968.tb01547.x
Subject(s) - geology , aeolian processes , loam , swale , sand dune stabilization , sorting , erosion , carbonate , silt , soil water , geochemistry , geomorphology , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , ecology , materials science , geotechnical engineering , stormwater , biology , computer science , surface runoff , metallurgy , programming language
Summary Fixed dunes occupy 400 000 acres in the west central Gezira. Isolated dunes occur sporadically through the central Gezira, and trend NW from Sennar on the Blue Nile to El Geteina on the White Nile. They probably originated as channel deposits laid down by former distributaries of the Blue Nile. Minor aeolian re‐sorting took place, and was followed by plant colonization and dune stabilization. Erosion of the dunes is locally active, resulting in exposure of the underlying clays. The catena comprises leached sands (Psammustents) on the dune crests and illuvial loams and clays (Orthustents) in the swales. Swale soils contain pedogenetic and relict lacustrine carbonate. The catena is often superimposed upon former soils, resulting in polygenetic profiles.