Image: Haim Tsoar

Conceptual Design of the Atlas and Data Sources

We will use GIS technology to develop regional and global maps of inland desert dune field extent and chronology for the past 150 ka, with a focus on events of the past 30 ka. We will use satellite image data, any existing GIS coverages, and published literature to compile information for as many dunefields as possible and record the areas covered by different dune types (dune generations), dune trends and orientations, as well as areas of currently active and vegetation stabilized dunes. We will compile information on dated aeolian sequences, incorporating chronologic data into a standardized database usable in a GIS framework. We will provide information on the latitude and longitude of the sample site(s); the type of date (e.g. TL, OSL, radiocarbon); age; error; standardized correction (i.e. calibrated ages for radiocarbon dates); error on corrected age; lab number; reference or citation for the age; and relevance of the date (i.e. signifying an active or stable state of the eolian deposit). Metadata will also include literature citations. The potential exists to add information on dune sedimentary characteristics (e.g. grain size and sorting, mineral composition), wind regimes, and the local dune mobility index) as such data are available.

The resulting maps will be available via a dedicated web site and will be capable of being updated in the future as new data become available. We plan to use an open community based approach to updating the database that has proved successful in so many other fields. There will be two versions of the database: (1) a public access version from which information can be viewed and downloaded; and (2) a working version, access to which will be available to qualified investigators (more), where new data can be contributed to the database.