Structure and morphological characteristics of polygonal salt crust, the West Juyan Lake, China.

Polygonal salt crust patches (PSCPs) in modern playas have critical hydrologic implications for arid areas, but the morphology and origin of these polygonal features are under debate. This study investigated the structure and morphological characteristics of crustal landforms in a modern playa located in the West Juyan Lake, western Inner Mongolia of China, through an integrated analysis of high-resolution remote sensing images obtained from Google Earth, pedestrian field surveys, and unmanned aerial vehicle photography. The study area covers approximately 2,650 ha and the number of salt crust patches was 3,491. Across this area, the coverage and number of salt crust patches varied with elevation and sedimentary environment. The results show that the polygonal patch pattern of the salt crust landforms was fractal, and similar polygonal patch perimeter to area ratios and landscape index values prevail in the study area. The wind erosion of material on the surface of the Gobi Desert, a mountain torrent alluvial fan, and material carried by seasonal river water probably provided the provenance of the regional salt crust landforms. The structure and morphological characteristics of salt crust in typical playas of the arid and semiarid region are important for better understanding their composition and sedimentary environment. This study can help reveal relevant information regarding environmental change and provide a reference for saline dust emissions from playas in arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]