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China’s dust and sand deposits controlled by Yellow River

The movement of desert sands and dust in Northern China is controlled by one of the world’s largest rivers, new research has discovered.

Analysis of individual grains of wind-blown dust deposited in the Chinese Loess Plateau showed that the Yellow River, which flows through China, transports large quantities of sediment from Northern Tibet to the Mu Us desert in Mongolia.

The findings will assist in climate change modelling, now that it is known that changes in the region’s major river systems will influence the amount of dust that is released into the atmosphere.

Northern China holds some of the world’s largest dust deposits, known as loess. The origins of this dust had long been the subject of debate.

Read more at Royal Holloway University

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