Preliminary investigations of dunes of the Gawler Ranges Province, South Australia
Date
1996
Authors
Campbell, E.
Twidale, C.
Hutton, J.
Prescott, J.
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Advisors
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Journal article
Citation
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 1996; 120(1):21-36
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Abstract
Three fields of dunes have developed in the recent past within the Gawler Ranges in the arid-semiand interior of South Australia. The dunes (lunettes, parabolic dunes, transverse dunes, linear dunes, climbing dunes and falling dunes) are essentially relic forms, were active about 4000 years BP and are now stabilised by vegetation though strong winds still cause occasional sand movement. Some of the dunes demonstrate sand transport over distances of at least 25 km. The origin of the various morphological dune types is discussed. Supply of sand, the moisture content of the substrate, the vegetation cover and wind speed and direction are all important. Topography influences the morphology of the dunes in various ways and is fundamental to any explanation of climbing and falling dunes.