Authors

Farouk El-Baz

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2000

Abstract

Images of the Great Sahara of North Africa oblained by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVTRI), manned missions, and Landsat show regional linear patterns of sand dunes resulting from wind action. These patterns trend southward in the northern part and southwestward in the center of the desert. Radar Cata from the Spaceborne Imaging Radar (sm-c) and Madarsat rveal sand- buried courses f palaeo-channels that lead ta depressions, which enclose major sand accumulations. Interpretation of these dala supgests that the sand iķinatec ia the southera part of the Sahara was carried northward in river courses during past wel climates o be depasited within inland lakes. Priar to the onset o, dryness. and the resut eolian forms, much af the water would huve 5n?e-pheck into the substrate thrO E prix. rock) and/or secondary Hfault-inducec porosity be stored çrounk water. erefore threr or ground water in he Sahara should consider depressions with larwe accumulations of sand.

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