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Wind-blown inland sand dunefields

Wind-blown inland sand dunefields

Direction of groundwater movement GDE Direction of groundwater movement GDE GDE GDE GDE GDE GDE GDE GDE Evapotranspiration Evapotranspiration Eucalyptus spp. Direction of surface water movement outside a channel Direction of surface water movement outside a channel Direction of surface water movement outside a channel Infiltration and percolation Infiltration and percolation Infiltration and percolation Groundwater leakage Groundwater leakage Groundwater leakage Groundwater leakage Sand (saturated with groundwater) Sand (saturated with groundwater) Sand (saturated with groundwater) Sand (saturated with groundwater) Low permeability rock Low permeability rock Low permeability rock Low permeability rock Low permeability rock Sand (saturated with groundwater) Groundwater leakage Infiltration and percolation Direction of surface water movement outside a channel Eucalyptus spp. Eucalyptus spp. Eucalyptus spp. Basement Sand Sand (saturated with groundwater)

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Click on elements of the model or select from the tabs below

Inland sand dunefields are composed largely of unconsolidated sand deposited by wind (aeolian processes). These inland sand dunefields can store groundwater in local, intermediate or regional groundwater flow systems and also in perched aquifers formed by layers of clay dominated material.
Unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers in inland sand dunefields may provide a range of ecosystems with water required to support their plant and animal communities, ecological processes and delivery of ecosystem services.

  • Palustrine (e.g. swamps) and lacustrine (e.g. lakes) wetlands and riverine (e.g. streams and rivers) water bodies on the edges of inland sand dunefields may depend on the surface expression of groundwater.
  • Terrestrial vegetation on inland sand dunefields may depend on the subsurface presence of groundwater in these unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers where groundwater is typically accessed through the capillary zone above the watertable.
  • Unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers in inland sand dunefields may also support aquifer ecosystems which can be indicated by the presence of stygofauna.

Pictorial conceptual model PDF

Last updated: 18 December 2015

This page should be cited as:

Queensland Government, Queensland (2015) Wind-blown inland sand dunefields, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/aquatic-ecosystems-natural/groundwater-dependent/wind-blown-inland-sand-dunefields/

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of Environment, Science and Innovation