The study of dunes at field sites near Gobabeb has
contributed much to our understanding of the movement
of desert sand dunes. For example, the movement
of a single complex linear dune in the northern
part of the sand sea has been monitored for over 30
years. Initially a grid of 58 steel posts was established
in 1980 at the site known as ‘Visitors’ Dune’
(Fig. 3) and a second site approximately 500 m
south on the same dune and known as ‘Warsaw’
(Fig. 3) was established in 1982. The position of the
posts was ascertained using an optical theodolite.
The steel posts at these sites were measured weekly
until 1984 to provide a record of surface change
presented by Livingstone (1989). Subsequently,
these sites have been the subject of repeat surveys at
irregular intervals using a variety of surveying techniques
(Livingstone 1993, 2003). Lancaster (1989,
pp. 96–110) also reported a one-year study of dune
movement using measurements every two weeks of
steel posts on three cross-profiles on complex linear
dunes close to Gobabeb.