Objectives  The Kumkuli Desert, located in the Altun Mountains Nature Reserve, represents the highest-elevation desert in the world. However, there is currently a paucity of knowledge regarding the dynamics of its sand dunes. The monitoring of the dynamics of crescent-shaped sand dunes at the edge of deserts utilizing multi-period high-resolution remote sensing images.

Methods A total of eighty-nine barchan sand dunes were selected for study on the eastern and western margins of the desert. A series of morphological parameters of the sand dunes were then measured and calculated for each of these sand dunes. The movement rate and direction of the sand dunes were quantified, and the factors responsible for the dynamic changes observed in the sand dunes were analyzed in combination with meteorological and topographic data.

Results The results showed that: (1) The movement rate of barchan sand dunes on the edge of the Kumkuli Desert has been observed to range from 0.57 to 4.38 m/a, with an average value of 2.22 m/a. The rate of sand dune migration was significantly negatively correlated with its size, with larger crescent-shaped sand dunes moving slower. The movement rate of sand dunes of barchan sand dunes on the same scale was lower than that of other deserts, reflecting the lower activity of sand dunes in the Kumkuli Desert. The low movement rate of sand dunes was the result of a complex interplay between regional wind conditions, altitude, low-temperature freezing, and terrain undulations. (2) The direction of sand dune movement ranged from 102° to 152°, with an average of 130°. The overall movement direction was NW-SE, and the direction of sand dune migration is significantly deviated from the direction of resultant drift potential. The direction of sand dune movement was consistent with the extension direction of desert lakes, so sand burial will not occur in lakes due to sand dune movement. (3) Significant deformation occurred during the migration of sand dunes, and most of the sand dunes showed a decreasing trend in size, resulting in loss of sand material.. (4) There were significant differences in the scale, migration rate, and morphological variations of barchan dunes in the western and eastern edges of the Kumkuli Desert.

Conclusions  The process of aeolian sand transport in alpine cold deserts was influenced by a multitude of factors, including wind regimes, terrain, low temperature, and low air density. Further research should prioritize investigating the impact of freezing on sand dune dynamics in future research.