Aeolian depositional landforms of the south eastern Mojave Desert, California

Abstract

Remote sensing and photo interpretation techniques are used to describe and map aeolian deposits found along two sediment transport corridors in the south eastern Mojave Desert. The first pathway and associated sand deposits extend eastward from Bristol Playa through the Cadiz and Danby Playas through Rice Valley to the Colorado River. The second path parallels the first and extends eastward from Dale Playa, over Clark's Pass to the Mule Mountains near the Colorado River. The location of sand ramps on the western slopes of mountains along each path suggests that eastward wind driven sand is not confined to topographic divides around the individual playas and valleys. Results of the watershed analysis demonstrate that an association may exist between various sand deposits located in different drainage basins. Sand transport along the pathways appears to have been episodic, based on a Landsat TM brightness classification methodology used to determine an index of dune activity. The episodic nature of sand deposition is also supported by the abundant presence of paleosols among the various sand ramp deposits.