Due to weather and personal scheduling considerations, the field work is targeted for February of 1999. This system is capable of recording positions with centimeter-scale precision over distances of several kilometers, which should allow us to examine quantitatively various scenarios for both the ridge and dune emplacement. A second major objective will involve obtaining reflectance spectra in the field of the plants, soils, and rocks within the study area . The Colorado River and the town of Parker are in the upper left, and agricultural fields on the river floodplain are at left. The study area will be the dunes and ridges at upper center.
North is to the top.
Oblique telephoto view of the stabilized dunes near Parker, obtained from the summit of Parker Butte. The dunes are typically 1 to 3 m high, spaced 20 to 40 m apart. Reflectance is strongly influenced by vegetation differences between the dune and interdune areas. Oblique surface view looking west over a stabilized dune near Parker. The dune has sparse Big Galleta grass on aeolian sand while the interdune has abundant Russian Thistle and Creosote with small rock chips on a thin sand cover over an indurated subsurface.