Modeling the Geomorphological Development Stages of the Kaluts (Yardangs) in the Lut Desert World Heritage Site and Their Comparison with the Yardangs of the Aeolis Region on Mars
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
University of Tehran
2
Professor, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran
10.22034/gmpj.2025.512496.1553
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The Lut Desert in Iran, one of the hottest and most arid deserts on Earth, hosts an extensive array of yardangs, whose unique geological and climatic conditions provide an ideal natural laboratory for studying erosional processes. In contrast, the Aeolis region of Mars, extensively explored by NASA's orbiters and rovers, features yardangs that exhibit striking morphological parallels to their terrestrial counterparts in terms of shape, orientation, and erosion patterns. A comparative analysis of these two regions offers valuable insights into the influence of climatic factors, material composition, and erosional dynamics in two distinct yet analogous environments. One effective approach to investigating these phenomena is the geomorphological modeling of yardang development stages, which enables the simulation of their formation, growth, and evolutionary trajectories over time. Such modeling not only enhances our understanding of the environmental and geological drivers behind yardang evolution but also facilitates a more precise comparative framework between terrestrial and Martian analogs. In this study, geomorphological modeling techniques, including three-dimensional reconstruction, are employed to simulate the developmental stages of the Lut Desert yardangs and compare them with those in the Aeolis region of Mars. The research pursues two primary objectives: first, to identify the dominant processes governing yardang formation in the Lut Desert and on Mars, and second, to analyze the key factors influencing these processes across both planetary contexts.
Methodology
In this study, Landsat 9 satellite imagery was initially acquired via Google Earth Engine for the Lut Desert region. A digital elevation model (DEM) of the area was subsequently extracted from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) database. Following this, the yardangs within the Lut Desert were systematically identified. To evaluate these geomorphological structures and assess the role of wind in yardang formation, the DEM data were integrated into the Global Wind Atlas platform. Key parameters, including the frequency, velocity, and intensity of prevailing winds, were then computed and analyzed.
Results and Discussion
Wind Frequency, Velocity, and Power
The results revealed that the predominant wind frequency in the Lut Desert yardangs is 30%, with winds predominantly originating from the northwest. Wind velocity emerged as a critical factor in yardang formation, with 50% of measured wind speeds attributed to the dominant northwest winds in the study area. The third parameter, wind power, demonstrated that northwest winds account for 60% of the total wind energy in the Lut Desert. This high wind power underscores the significant erosional capacity of northwestern winds to modify surface features and induce substantial changes in geomorphological structures. Wind power is directly correlated with its capacity to transport and displace sedimentary particles, a process that profoundly influences yardang morphology.
Processes Driving the Genesis and Evolution of Lut Desert Yardangs
The findings indicate that the Lut Desert yardangs have evolved through the interplay of endogenic and exogenic processes. Aeolian and hydrological forces, combined with lithological variations, have generated diverse erosional patterns in the region, ultimately producing the distinct geomorphological forms of the Lut yardangs.
Developmental Stages of Lut Desert Yardangs
Analysis of the Lut Desert yardangs enabled the proposal of a five-stage developmental model. This model not only provides a comprehensive explanation of yardang evolution but also facilitates the interpretation of how factors such as wind dynamics, hydrological activity, lithology, and environmental conditions collectively shape these structures. The model assigns primary agency to aeolian processes in yardang formation and serves as a holistic framework for studying yardangs in extraterrestrial contexts, including Mars.
Analysis of Martian Yardangs
The yardangs in the Aeolis Planum region of Mars are predominantly classified as "hogback" types, characterized by rounded forms, layered and dendritic structures on their upper surfaces. These features distinguish them morphologically from yardangs observed in other planetary regions. Prominent attributes include truncated heads, aligned wings, and conical tails. The widespread distribution of these yardangs in Aeolis Planum, along with their unique structural traits, highlights their significance as analogs for comparative planetary geomorphology studies.
Conclusion
The findings of this study demonstrate that aeolian erosion is the primary force driving the formation and evolution of yardangs in both regions. Persistent, high-energy winds have sculpted elongated, linear landforms by removing loose and less resistant materials through abrasion and deflation processes. The dominant orientation of yardangs in both areas aligns with the prevailing wind direction, as evidenced by the northwest-southeast elongation of yardangs and their intervening corridors in both the Lut Desert and Aeolis Planum on Mars. However, the directional patterns of prevailing winds differ between the two regions: winds in Aeolis Planum predominantly blow from the southeast to the northwest, whereas in the Lut Desert, the dominant winds follow a northwest-southeast trajectory. This divergence in wind regimes reflects distinct climatic conditions and dynamic wind patterns across the two planetary environments.
In terms of evolutionary stages, the Lut Desert yardangs are predominantly in a mature developmental phase, characterized by elongated ridges, narrow corridors, and steep windward slopes. In contrast, the Aeolis Planum yardangs are primarily classified as "whaleback" or "hogback" types, indicative of advanced-stage erosion and geomorphological evolution. These observations suggest that the Martian yardangs in Aeolis Planum are temporally older than their terrestrial counterparts in the Lut Desert, having undergone prolonged erosional processes under Mars’ unique atmospheric and geological conditions.
Introduction
The Lut Desert in Iran, one of the hottest and most arid deserts on Earth, hosts an extensive array of yardangs, whose unique geological and climatic conditions provide an ideal natural laboratory for studying erosional processes. In contrast, the Aeolis region of Mars, extensively explored by NASA's orbiters and rovers, features yardangs that exhibit striking morphological parallels to their terrestrial counterparts in terms of shape, orientation, and erosion patterns. A comparative analysis of these two regions offers valuable insights into the influence of climatic factors, material composition, and erosional dynamics in two distinct yet analogous environments. One effective approach to investigating these phenomena is the geomorphological modeling of yardang development stages, which enables the simulation of their formation, growth, and evolutionary trajectories over time. Such modeling not only enhances our understanding of the environmental and geological drivers behind yardang evolution but also facilitates a more precise comparative framework between terrestrial and Martian analogs. In this study, geomorphological modeling techniques, including three-dimensional reconstruction, are employed to simulate the developmental stages of the Lut Desert yardangs and compare them with those in the Aeolis region of Mars. The research pursues two primary objectives: first, to identify the dominant processes governing yardang formation in the Lut Desert and on Mars, and second, to analyze the key factors influencing these processes across both planetary contexts.
Methodology
In this study, Landsat 9 satellite imagery was initially acquired via Google Earth Engine for the Lut Desert region. A digital elevation model (DEM) of the area was subsequently extracted from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) database. Following this, the yardangs within the Lut Desert were systematically identified. To evaluate these geomorphological structures and assess the role of wind in yardang formation, the DEM data were integrated into the Global Wind Atlas platform. Key parameters, including the frequency, velocity, and intensity of prevailing winds, were then computed and analyzed.
Results and Discussion
Wind Frequency, Velocity, and Power
The results revealed that the predominant wind frequency in the Lut Desert yardangs is 30%, with winds predominantly originating from the northwest. Wind velocity emerged as a critical factor in yardang formation, with 50% of measured wind speeds attributed to the dominant northwest winds in the study area. The third parameter, wind power, demonstrated that northwest winds account for 60% of the total wind energy in the Lut Desert. This high wind power underscores the significant erosional capacity of northwestern winds to modify surface features and induce substantial changes in geomorphological structures. Wind power is directly correlated with its capacity to transport and displace sedimentary particles, a process that profoundly influences yardang morphology.
Processes Driving the Genesis and Evolution of Lut Desert Yardangs
The findings indicate that the Lut Desert yardangs have evolved through the interplay of endogenic and exogenic processes. Aeolian and hydrological forces, combined with lithological variations, have generated diverse erosional patterns in the region, ultimately producing the distinct geomorphological forms of the Lut yardangs.
Developmental Stages of Lut Desert Yardangs
Analysis of the Lut Desert yardangs enabled the proposal of a five-stage developmental model. This model not only provides a comprehensive explanation of yardang evolution but also facilitates the interpretation of how factors such as wind dynamics, hydrological activity, lithology, and environmental conditions collectively shape these structures. The model assigns primary agency to aeolian processes in yardang formation and serves as a holistic framework for studying yardangs in extraterrestrial contexts, including Mars.
Analysis of Martian Yardangs
The yardangs in the Aeolis Planum region of Mars are predominantly classified as "hogback" types, characterized by rounded forms, layered and dendritic structures on their upper surfaces. These features distinguish them morphologically from yardangs observed in other planetary regions. Prominent attributes include truncated heads, aligned wings, and conical tails. The widespread distribution of these yardangs in Aeolis Planum, along with their unique structural traits, highlights their significance as analogs for comparative planetary geomorphology studies.
Conclusion
The findings of this study demonstrate that aeolian erosion is the primary force driving the formation and evolution of yardangs in both regions. Persistent, high-energy winds have sculpted elongated, linear landforms by removing loose and less resistant materials through abrasion and deflation processes. The dominant orientation of yardangs in both areas aligns with the prevailing wind direction, as evidenced by the northwest-southeast elongation of yardangs and their intervening corridors in both the Lut Desert and Aeolis Planum on Mars. However, the directional patterns of prevailing winds differ between the two regions: winds in Aeolis Planum predominantly blow from the southeast to the northwest, whereas in the Lut Desert, the dominant winds follow a northwest-southeast trajectory. This divergence in wind regimes reflects distinct climatic conditions and dynamic wind patterns across the two planetary environments.
In terms of evolutionary stages, the Lut Desert yardangs are predominantly in a mature developmental phase, characterized by elongated ridges, narrow corridors, and steep windward slopes. In contrast, the Aeolis Planum yardangs are primarily classified as "whaleback" or "hogback" types, indicative of advanced-stage erosion and geomorphological evolution. These observations suggest that the Martian yardangs in Aeolis Planum are temporally older than their terrestrial counterparts in the Lut Desert, having undergone prolonged erosional processes under Mars’ unique atmospheric and geological conditions.
Keywords
احسانی، ا.ه.، 1389، ژئومورفولوژی مگایاردانگهای لوت، پژوهشهای جغرافیای طبیعی، شماره 74، صص 63-78.
احسانی، ا.ه.، و فروتن، م.، 1393. پهنهبندی کمی زمین دیسهای بزرگ محیط بیابانی با استفاده از شبکههای عصبی مصنوعی (مقایسه کویرهای لوت ایران و کایدام چین). محیطشناسی، 40(2)، 515-527.
احمدی، ح.، 1387. ژئومورفولوژی کاربردی: بیابان- فرسایش بادی (جلد 2). انتشارات دانشگاه تهران.
مشهدی، ن.، علوی پناه، س.ک.، و احمدی، ح.، 1381. مطالعه ژئومورفولوژی یاردانگهای لوت، بیابان، جلد 7، شماره 2، صص 25-43.4.
مقصودی، م.، حاجیزاده، ع.، نظام محله، م.ع.، و بیاتی صداقت، ز.، 1394. بررسی شرایط محیطی دیرینه کلوت های تخممرغی شکل دشت لوت با استفاده از دانه سنجی، فصلنامه اطلاعات جغرافیایی (سپهر)، دوره 24، شماره 96، صص 51-64.
مقصودی، م.، خان بابایی، ز.، محمدی، ا.، محبوبی، ص.، و بهاروند، م.، 2016. مطالعه شرایط محیطی دریاچههای پلویال ایران با استفاده از شواهد رسوبی (مطالعه موردی: کلوتهای بیابان لوت). پژوهشهای جغرافیای طبیعی، 48(1)، 125-142.
Al-Dousari, A. M., Al-Elaj, M., Al-Enezi, E., & Al-Shareeda, A. (2009). Origin and characteristics of yardangs in the Um Al-Rimam depressions (N Kuwait). Geomorphology, 104(3-4), 93-104.
Barchyn, T. E. (2018). Modeling the mechanisms behind yardang evolution. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123(4), 618-621.
Barchyn, T. E., & Hugenholtz, C. H. (2015). Yardang evolution from maturity to demise. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(14), 5865-5871.
Bristow, C. S., Drake, N., & Armitage, S. (2009). Deflation in the dustiest place on Earth: the Bodélé Depression, Chad. Geomorphology, 105(1-2), 50-58.
Brookes, I. A. (2001). Aeolian erosional lineations in the Libyan Desert, Dakhla region, Egypt. Geomorphology, 39(3-4), 189-209.
Carr, M. H. (2007). The Surface of Mars. Cambridge University Pres
Chamberlain, T. E., Cole, H. L., Dutton, R. G., Greene, G. C. and Tillman, J. E. (1976). Atmopspheric Measurements on Mars: the Viking Meteorology Experiment. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 57, 1094–1104.
Chen, L., Xu, Y., & Li, B. (2021). Comparitive study of the geomorphological characteristics of valley networks between Mars and the Qaidam Basin. Remote Sensing, 13(21), 4471.
De Silva, S. L., Bailey, J. E., Mandt, K. E., & Viramonte, J. M. (2010). Yardangs in terrestrial ignimbrites: Synergistic remote and field observations on Earth with applications to Mars. Planetary and Space Science, 58(4), 459-471.
Ding, Z., Zhao, J., Wang, J., & Lai, Z. (2020). Yardangs on Earth and implications to Mars: A review. Geomorphology, 364, 107230.
Dong, R., Z. Dong, 2015. Aesthetic evaluation of Yardang landforms landscape: the Dunhuang Yardang National Geo-park Example, Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 7; 265-271.
Dong, Z., Lv, P., Lu, J., Qian, G., Zhang, Z., & Luo, W. (2012). Geomorphology and origin of yardangs in the Kumtagh Desert, Northwest China. Geomorphology, 139, 145-154.
Goudie, A. S. (2007). Mega‐yardangs: A global analysis. Geography Compass, 1(1), 65-81.
Goudie, A. S. (2008). The history and nature of wind erosion in deserts. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 36(1), 97-119.
Goudie, A. S., & Middleton, N. J. (2006). Desert dust in the global system. Springer Science & Business Media.
Goudie, A., & Viles, H. A. (2015). Landscapes and landforms of Namibia (p. 164). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.
Gutiérrez-Elorza, M., Desir, G., & Gutiérrez-Santolalla, F. (2002). Yardangs in the semiarid central sector of the Ebro Depression (NE Spain). Geomorphology, 44(1-2), 155-170.
Halimov, M., & Fezer, F. (1989). Eight yardang types in Central Asia. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 33(2), 205-217.
Hu, C., Chen, N., Kapp, P., Chen, J., Xiao, A., & Zhao, Y. (2017). Yardang geometries in the Qaidam Basin and their controlling factors. Geomorphology, 299, 142-151.
Huggett, R., & Shuttleworth, E. (2022). Fundamentals of Geomorphology (5th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003251156
Inbar, M., & Risso, C. (2001). Holocene yardangs in volcanic terrains in the southern Andes, Argentina. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms: The Journal of the British Geomorphological Research Group, 26(6), 657-666.
Laity, J. E. (2011). Wind erosion in drylands. Arid zone geomorphology: Process, form and change in drylands, 539-568.
Maghsoudi, M., Moradi, A., Moradipour, F., & Nezammahalleh, M. A. (2019). Geotourism development in world heritage of the Lut Desert. Geoheritage, 11, 501-516.
Mandt, K., de Silva, S., Zimbelman, J., & Wyrick, D. (2009). Distinct erosional progressions in the Medusae Fossae Formation, Mars, indicate contrasting environmental conditions. Icarus, 204(2), 471-477.
McEwen, A. S., Dundas, C. M., Mattson, S. S., Toigo, A. D., Ojha, L., Wray, J. J., ... & Thomas, N. (2014). Recurring slope lineae in equatorial regions of Mars. Nature geoscience, 7(1), 53-58.
Pelletier, J. D. (2018). Controls on yardang development and morphology: 2. Numerical modeling. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123(4), 723-743.
Pelletier, J. D., Kapp, P. A., Abell, J., Field, J. P., Williams, Z. C., & Dorsey, R. J. (2018). Controls on yardang development and morphology: 1. Field observations and measurements at Ocotillo Wells, California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123(4), 694-722.
Pötter, S., Lehmkuhl, F., Weise, J., Zykina, V. S., & Zykin, V. S. (2023). Spatiotemporal model for the evolution of a mega-yardang system in the foreland of the Russian Altai. Aeolian Research, 61, 100866.
Read, P. L. and Lewis, S. R. (2004). The Martian Climate Revisited: Atmosphere and Environment of a Desert Planet. Springer Science & Business Media.
Stapff, F. M. (1887). Karte des unteren Khuisebtals. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen, 33, 202-14.
Trego, K. D. (1992). Yardang identification in Magellan imagery of Venus. Earth, Moon, and Planets (ISSN 0167-9295), vol. 58, no. 3, p. 289, 290., 58, 289.
Viúdez-Moreiras, D., Gómez-Elvira, J., Newman, C., Navarro, S. and Marin, M. (2017). Gale Wind Speed Weibull Distribution Based on the First Two Years of REMS Wind Data, The Sixth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and observation, Granada, Spain, p. 1108.
Walther, J. (1891). Die Denudation in der Wüste. Akademi der Wissenschaften: Mathematischk-Physicalische Klasse, Abhandlungen, 16, 435-461.
Wang, Y., Chen, T., Chongyi, E., An, F., Lai, Z., Zhao, L., & Liu, X. J. (2018). Quartz OSL and K-feldspar post-IR IRSL dating of loess in the Huangshui river valley, northeastern Tibetan plateau. Aeolian research, 33, 23-32.
Wang, J., Xiao, L., Reiss, D., Hiesinger, H., Huang, J., Xu, Y., ... & Komatsu, G. (2018). Geological features and evolution of Yardangs in the Qaidam Basin, Tibetan Plateau (NW China): A terrestrial analogue for Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 123(9), 2336-2364.
Ward, A. W. (1979). Yardangs on Mars: Evidence of recent wind erosion. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 84(B14), 8147-8166.
Ward, A. W., & Greeley, R. (1984). Evolution of the yardangs at Rogers Lake, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 95(7), 829-837.
Xiao, L., Wang, J., Dang, Y., Cheng, Z., Huang, T., Zhao, J., ... & Komatsu, G. (2017). A new terrestrial analogue site for Mars research: the Qaidam Basin, Tibetan Plateau (NW China). Earth-Science Reviews, 164, 84-101.
Xiao, L. (Ed.). (2021). Mars on Earth: A study of the Qaidam Basin (Vol. 5). World Scientific.
Zheng, B. X., Zheng, L. Y., & Hu, X. H. (2002). Distribution and characteristics of yardang landform and its formation period, west to Yumenguan, Gansu. Journal of Desert Research, 22(1), 40.
