The surface geology and geomorphology around gobabeb, namib desert, namibia

Abstract

This paper serves as a brief review and overview of the surface geology and geomorphology around Gobabeb in the Central Namib Desert. It introduces the major lithologies associated with the Damara Orogen of Precambrian and Cambrian age, followed by Tertiary sandstones and conglomerates and Quaternary Kuiseb valley conglomerates, silts and gravels. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gobabeb research station and the recent designation of the Namib Sand Sea as a world heritage site, we are presenting a map to inform and guide future research and educational activities around Gobabeb. The contrast between an ancient gravel plain to the north, a dynamic aeolian sand sea to the south and ephemeral river environments in between become apparent. These natural laboratories have attracted investigations of contemporary sand dune movement, hyper saline waters, evaporites and duricrusts and ephemeral flooding and recharge processes as well as environmental change and human impacts.

Virome Assembly and Annotation: A Surprise in the Namib Desert

“…Surface temperatures are subject to extreme seasonal fluctuation, reaching up to 70°C for short periods of time. High levels of UV radiation, physical disturbance and low nutrient status further accentuate the severe conditions (Nicholson, 2011; Eckardt et al, 2013b). The surface geomorphology and mineralogy in the Namib Desert also varies widely, with reported surface outcrops of uranium and copper (Eckardt et al, 2013b).…”

“…High levels of UV radiation, physical disturbance and low nutrient status further accentuate the severe conditions (Nicholson, 2011; Eckardt et al, 2013b). The surface geomorphology and mineralogy in the Namib Desert also varies widely, with reported surface outcrops of uranium and copper (Eckardt et al, 2013b). These create environmental pockets where microorganisms and their respective viral pathogens may have adapted to poly-extreme conditions.…”

The influence of surface soil physicochemistry on the edaphic bacterial communities in contrasting terrain types of theCentralNamibDesert

“…The Namib Desert, one of the world's oldest deserts with an estimated age of 80 million years (Prestel et al ., ), covers much of the western coast of Namibia (Southgate et al ., ). It can roughly be divided into two very different latitudinal zones: the northern gravel deserts (dominated by gypsum, calcretes and with extensive quartz pebble desert pavements; Eckardt et al ., ), and the southern ‘sand sea’ (a recently declared UNESCO World Heritage Site), a region of parallel dune and interdune structures running in a north–south orientation (Southgate et al ., ). The two zones, separated by the Kuiseb River, differ hugely in geological composition, microclimate and macrobiology (Eckardt et al ., ,b).…”

Southern african geomorphology: looking back, moving forward

“…Eckardt et al . () provide an overview of the surface geology and geomorphology around Gobabeb in the Central Namib Desert. The paper introduces the major lithologies associated with the Damara Orogen of Precambrian and Cambrian age, followed by Tertiary sandstones and conglomerates and Quaternary Kuiseb Valley conglomerates, silts and gravels.…”

“…To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Gobabeb research station and to pay tribute to the recent designation of the Namib Sand Sea as a world heritage site, Eckardt et al . () also present a map to inform and guide future research and educational activities around Gobabeb.…”