Desertification Risk Assessment of Sand Dunes in Middle Egypt: A Geotechnical Environmental Study

Abstract

The evaluation of aeolian desertification of sand dunes in north Assuit, Middle Egypt, has been achieved throughout a variety of detailed field investigations and laboratory measurements. The study area lies in hot dry desert climatic conditions where the sand dunes migration represents an effective threat cultivated lands, reclaimed lands, asphaltic roads and the systems of human distribution. Its mean annual rainfall is about 51\xa0mm. Except the Nile Valley, Egypt is mostly considered as dry desert lands so about 4% of its surface area is under plough. The study barchans are mainly composed of poorly graded sands and consist of fine sand, medium sand and a negligible amount of coarse sand, silts and clays. Compositionally, the studied sand dunes are mainly consist of quartz, rock fragments and negligible amounts of feldspars with the absence of any chemically active constitutes (e.g. chert, flint, chalcedony and dolomite). These sands are also free of organic matter. The removal of dune sands in hazardous sites considers a short-term solution method of the aeolian desertification problem.