The Region is divided into 10 landscape unitsLandscape units: Serirs, Ergs, Deflation plainsDeflation plains, Deflated depression (“DeflationswannenDeflationswannen”), hilly landscapes, and plateaus with escarpments, wadis, oases, and birs. Serirs are wide monotonous plains of alluvial sandAlluvial sand and aeolian sandAeolian sand of different thicknesses. The surface of the Serir is covered with a layer of coarse sand to fine gravel. The monotony of the Serir is occasionally interrupted by dunes or by outcrop of quartzite sandstoneSandstone or iron crust remnants. The famous Serirs in the studied region are: “Atmur El KabeishAtmur El Kabeish” and the “Selima Sand SheetSelima Sand Sheet”. The Ergs are characterized by aeolian sandAeolian sand and dunes deposited on different substrates. Almost all types of dunes can be found in the investigated region: barchans (creeping duneCreeping dune or crescent dune), SeifsSeifs (longitudinal dunesLongitudinal dunes), dome dunes, and transition forms. Deflation areas are landscapes formed by wind erosionWind erosion. They are divided into Deflated plainsDeflated plains and Deflated depressionsDeflated depressions (DeflationswannenDeflationswannen). Deflated plains occupy large areas in southwestern Egypt. According to the main wind direction, the deflated depressions are mainly found south of the Egyptian and Abu Ballas escarpmentAbu Ballas escarpment. Its formation is largely due to the erosional effect of fall winds. Due to the selective erosion of wind, the ground surface of deflated areas is covered with a layer of stones and/or fine gravel and has a rougher micro-relief compared to Serir. Deflation plains occur on almost all tertiary and Mesozoic rocks. Hilly landscapes consist of “inselbergsInselbergs” and “tafelbergsTafelbergs” from tertiary (in northeast) and MesozoicMesozoic rocks as well as basaltBasalt mounds (cones) and rarely quartzite sandstoneSandstone mounds. Between the hills, playasPlayas, fluvial sediments, and aeolian sandAeolian sand are often found in different thicknesses. Small dunes or aeolian sand sheetsAeolian sand sheets can occur on the lee side of the hills. The most famous hills are Gebel EdmonstoneGebel Edmonstone, Six HillsSix Hills, Abu Ballas, and Gebel KamilGebel Kamil. In the investigated region there are three plateaus: the Egyptian Plateau, the Abu Ballas plateau, and the Gilf KebirGilf Kebir Plateau. The Egyptian plateauEgyptian plateau includes the northern plateau with the Abu Tartur Plateau and the eastern plateau. The slopes of escarpments found at the edge of plateaus are covered with debrisDebris which leis over pediments of different widths. The edges of the plateaus and escarpments as well as the pediment areas are rugged and fissured by wadis and dry water channels. Wadis are found on the periphery of the Egyptian and the Gilf KebirGilf Kebir plateaus and extend to the foreland of their escarpments. Water flow in the wadis is approximately once every decade. Inhabited oases lie in two major depressions: the Kharga-Baris and The Dakhla Depression. In these depressions, there are a large number of wells and settlements. There are several birs to the southeast of the study area. These are sites with high groundwater levels, often with vegetation and wildlife, but not inhabited by humans. The most famous birs are: Bir Tarfawi, Bir Safsaf, Bir Sahara, and Bir Misaha. The last two birs have no vegetation.

Geomorphology

章节
发表日期：

2025年

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Fayez Alaily

摘要

The Region is divided into 10 landscape unitsLandscape units: Serirs, Ergs, Deflation plainsDeflation plains, Deflated depression (“DeflationswannenDeflationswannen”), hilly landscapes, and plateaus with escarpments, wadis, oases, and birs. Serirs are wide monotonous plains of alluvial sandAlluvial sand and aeolian sandAeolian sand of different thicknesses. The surface of the Serir is covered with a layer of coarse sand to fine gravel. The monotony of the Serir is occasionally interrupted by dunes or by outcrop of quartzite sandstoneSandstone or iron crust remnants. The famous Serirs in the studied region are: “Atmur El KabeishAtmur El Kabeish” and the “Selima Sand SheetSelima Sand Sheet”. The Ergs are characterized by aeolian sandAeolian sand and dunes deposited on different substrates. Almost all types of dunes can be found in the investigated region: barchans (creeping duneCreeping dune or crescent dune), SeifsSeifs (longitudinal dunesLongitudinal dunes), dome dunes, and transition forms. Deflation areas are landscapes formed by wind erosionWind erosion. They are divided into Deflated plainsDeflated plains and Deflated depressionsDeflated depressions (DeflationswannenDeflationswannen). Deflated plains occupy large areas in southwestern Egypt. According to the main wind direction, the deflated depressions are mainly found south of the Egyptian and Abu Ballas escarpmentAbu Ballas escarpment. Its formation is largely due to the erosional effect of fall winds. Due to the selective erosion of wind, the ground surface of deflated areas is covered with a layer of stones and/or fine gravel and has a rougher micro-relief compared to Serir. Deflation plains occur on almost all tertiary and Mesozoic rocks. Hilly landscapes consist of “inselbergsInselbergs” and “tafelbergsTafelbergs” from tertiary (in northeast) and MesozoicMesozoic rocks as well as basaltBasalt mounds (cones) and rarely quartzite sandstoneSandstone mounds. Between the hills, playasPlayas, fluvial sediments, and aeolian sandAeolian sand are often found in different thicknesses. Small dunes or aeolian sand sheetsAeolian sand sheets can occur on the lee side of the hills. The most famous hills are Gebel EdmonstoneGebel Edmonstone, Six HillsSix Hills, Abu Ballas, and Gebel KamilGebel Kamil. In the investigated region there are three plateaus: the Egyptian Plateau, the Abu Ballas plateau, and the Gilf KebirGilf Kebir Plateau. The Egyptian plateauEgyptian plateau includes the northern plateau with the Abu Tartur Plateau and the eastern plateau. The slopes of escarpments found at the edge of plateaus are covered with debrisDebris which leis over pediments of different widths. The edges of the plateaus and escarpments as well as the pediment areas are rugged and fissured by wadis and dry water channels. Wadis are found on the periphery of the Egyptian and the Gilf KebirGilf Kebir plateaus and extend to the foreland of their escarpments. Water flow in the wadis is approximately once every decade. Inhabited oases lie in two major depressions: the Kharga-Baris and The Dakhla Depression. In these depressions, there are a large number of wells and settlements. There are several birs to the southeast of the study area. These are sites with high groundwater levels, often with vegetation and wildlife, but not inhabited by humans. The most famous birs are: Bir Tarfawi, Bir Safsaf, Bir Sahara, and Bir Misaha. The last two birs have no vegetation.