Principal component analysis is designed to minimize the correlation among the Landsat bands. An intermittent salt lake in the southern part of the basin, Aydingkol Hu, is difficult to locate on this image. Much of the sand in the depression has been transported to Sand Mountain, a 2500-km 2 sand sea. The dune pattern in the sea reflects the atmospheric circulation pattern of the area. The linear array of the complex linear dunes and sand sheets on the sea reflect the complex patterns described by Masibroda.
Star dunes appear in the south center of the sand sea and dominate the northeast.
This figure illustrates poorly consolidated sand dunes that were buried by water. The lake eroded the crests of the dunes and deposited a horizontal layer of siltstone above the sand. More recently, fluvial erosion has exposed the section. Note that the dip of the cross-strata below the horizontal beds is slightly steeper than that of the strata above the bed. Chapter 8 Table of Contents.