Context:
Scientists unveiled the first in-depth study of a star dune, revealing the internal structure of these geological features and showing how long it took for one of them to form.
Relevance:
GS I: Geography
Dimensions of the Article:
- Star Dunes
- Recent Research
Star Dunes:
- Definition: Also known as pyramid dunes, characterized by distinctive star-like shapes and towering heights, often exceeding hundreds of meters.
- Global Presence: Found in Africa, Asia, and North America, with sightings on celestial bodies like Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan.
- Earthly Distribution: Constitute approximately 10% of the world’s desert dunes.
Formation:
- Distinctive Features: Tallest among dune types, surpassing crescent-shaped barchan dunes and linear dunes.
- Factors: Formed in regions with intricate wind patterns, where winds converge from various directions, leading to the accumulation of sand in specific desert locations.
Geographical Hotspots:
- China: Earth’s largest star dunes located in the Badain Jaran desert.
- Africa: Present in the Namib Sand Sea in Namibia, Grand Erg Oriental and Grand Erg Occidental in Algeria, and Rub’ al Khali in Saudi Arabia.
- North America: Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado hosts a series of star dunes.
Recent Research:
- Location: UK research team focused on the Lala Lallia dune in southeast Morocco, measuring 100 meters in height and 700 meters in width.
- Age Revelation: Luminescence dating technique employed to determine the age of the star dune.
- Findings: Base of the dune dated back 13,000 years, while the upper part formed in the last 1,000 years.
- Significance: Offers insights into the dynamic formation and evolution of star dunes, contributing to our understanding of Earth’s geological history.
-Source: The Hindu
