scrubby vegetation covers white sand dunes of gypsum mineral

aeolian air alabaster alamogordo albedo alkaline arid basic bed beds beige blue calcium cerulean cloudless conditions contrasting contrasts crescent crystals delineated desert deserted desertification desolate dihydrate dry dune dunes environment environmental erosion existence flat geologic geology grass ground grows gypsum harsh high highly intermittent lake leeward longitudinal mexico mineral mineralogy minerals monument national natural new pans pile pristine reflective salt saltation salts sand sands sharply side sky slide stark still sulfate surface tuft untouched unvegetated white