Sandplain
Encyclopedia
A sandplain is an area where the soil is sand deposited from elsewhere by processes such as wind or ocean, rather than direct weathering of bedrock
.
Sandplains are quite flat. There may be dune
systems, and given time and the right conditions these may form eolianite
ridges, but other than that there is little to give a sandplain any topographical
character.
They are often extremely infertile, because the sand is often low in nutrients when deposited, plus the good drainage means any nutrients are rapidly leached
away.
In North America, sandplains are often vegetated by pine barrens
. In Western Australia, kwongan
is the dominant vegetation.
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
.
Sandplains are quite flat. There may be dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
systems, and given time and the right conditions these may form eolianite
Eolianite
Eolianite or aeolianite is any rock formed by the lithification of sediment deposited by aeolian processes; that is, the wind. In common use, however, the term refers specifically to the most common form of eolianite: coastal limestone consisting of carbonate sediment of shallow marine biogenic...
ridges, but other than that there is little to give a sandplain any topographical
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
character.
They are often extremely infertile, because the sand is often low in nutrients when deposited, plus the good drainage means any nutrients are rapidly leached
Leaching
In general, leaching is the extraction of certain materials from a carrier into a liquid . Specifically, it may refer to:...
away.
In North America, sandplains are often vegetated by pine barrens
Pine barrens
Pine barrens, pine plains, sand plains, or pinelands occur throughout the northeastern U.S. from New Jersey to Maine as well as the Midwest and Canada....
. In Western Australia, kwongan
Kwongan
Kwongan is a type of heathland found on the coastal plains of Western Australia. The name is derived from the language of the Noongar people. Kwongan comprises floristically-rich heath with dense thickets of sclerophyllous shrubs and isolated small trees...
is the dominant vegetation.
External links
- Sand Plains/Sand Sheets (U.S. Army Geospatial Center)