A simple low‐cost sand catcher for wind‐tunnel simulations

A simple low‐cost sand catcher has been developed for use in wind‐tunnel experiments. It is 500 mm high with a 300 mm by 20 mm inlet opening, and is designed to measure total mass transport directly. The length is 280 mm and its walls slowly expand at an angle of 5·6°. The top view is similar to that of the widely used BSNE sampler. Each sidewall is vented with three ventilation screens. Two sets of experiments were conducted on dune sand and at different wind velocities to investigate to what degree the catcher samples isokinetically, ef?ciently and non‐selectively. The results indicate that the catcher measures suf?ciently isokinetically (inlet wind velocity over outside wind velocity >0·9). Catch ef?ciency was around 0·75 and the degree of non‐selectivity was >0·80 for 95 per cent of the particle sizes of the test material. It was also observed that the in?uence of wind velocity on the tested sampler characteristics was of minor importance so that no speci?c corrections need to be made for different wind velocities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

THE INFLUENCE OF RAINFALL ON TRANSPORT OF BEACH SAND BY WIND

This paper deals with the effect of rainfall on the process of wind erosion of beach sands and presents results from both field and wind tunnel experiments. Although sediment transport by splash is of secondary importance on coastal dunes, splash–saltation processes can move sediments in conditions where no motion is predicted by aeolian processes. The effect of raindrop impact on the movement of soil particles by wind was measured on a sand beach plain using an acoustic sediment sampler. In general, an increase of particle movement by wind at the sensor heights was observed during rainfall. Rainfall also affected the wind erosion process during and after rain by changing the cohesive conditions of the surface. The influence of the surface moisture content on the initiation of wind erosion and on the vertical distribution of transported sand particles was studied in a wind tunnel. Moisture significantly increased threshold wind velocities for the initiation of sediment transport and modified vertical sediment profiles.     

Development of the saltation system under controlled environmental conditions

The transport of sand by the wind occurs predominantly by the process of saltation. Following the entrainment of sand by an above threshold wind, the saltation system is regulated by the mutual interaction of the atmospheric boundary‐layer, the sand cloud and the sand bed. Despite existing data on the spatial and temporal development of the sand transport system, very little is known about the development of the saltation system towards equilibrium. Results are presented from wind‐tunnel experiments that were designed to address the simultaneous spatial and temporal development of the saltation system, with and without artificial sand feed. The development of the saltation system was monitored over a streamwise length of 8 m during a period of 3600 s. Mass flux data were measured simultaneously at 1 m intervals by the downwind deployment of seven Aarhus sand traps. Wind velocity data were collected throughout the experiments. The downwind spatial development of the saltation system is manifested by an overshoot in mass flux and friction velocity prior to declining towards a quasi‐equilibrium. Mass flux overshoots at approximately 4 m downwind, in remarkable agreement with existing data of a comparable scale. Friction velocity overshoots at approximately 6 m downwind, a result not previously witnessed in saltation studies. The overshoot of mass flux prior to the overshoot in friction velocity is a spatial manifestation of the time lag between the entrainment of grains and the deceleration of the wind by the grains in transport. Temporally, the development of the saltation system is controlled by the availability of entrainable grains from the sand bed. Through time the saltation system develops from a transport‐limited to a supply‐limited system. The depletion of the sand bed through time limits the appropriateness of the assumption of ‘equilibrium’ for the universal prediction of mass flux. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of vegetation cover on sand transport by wind: field studies at Owens Lake,California

Field studies conducted at Owens Lake, California, provide direct measurements of sand flux on sand sheets with zero to 20 per cent cover of salt grass. Results from 12 different sand transport events show that aerodynamic roughness length and threshold wind shear velocity increase with vegetation cover as measured by vertically projected cover and roughness density (λ). This results in a negative exponential decrease in sediment flux with increasing vegetation cover such that sand transport is effectively eliminated when the vertically projected cover of salt grass is greater than 15 per cent. A general empirical model for the relation between sand flux and vegetation cover has been derived and can be used to predict the amount of vegetation required to stabilize sand dune areas. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transient sand transport rates after wind tunnel start-up

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted with a well mixed, flat sand bed, 5·7 m in length, to study the initial sand flux response at three different shear velocities. In some experiments, the bed was allowed to deplete without replenishment; in others, sand was fed 10·8 m upstream of the monitored cross-section. The results indicated that the transport rate increases rapidly during the first minute, and then adjusts slowly towards a steady rate. The time to reach such an equilibrium was observed to be on the order of 2–4 min in non-fed experiments and on the order of 8–9 min in fed experiments. Many factors may affect such development and bring about non-stationarity in total sand transport rate. Among these factors are differences in the natural composition of the sand bed, changes in both the topographical features of the sand bed (ripples) and its surface texture, and any artificial features that influence the adjustment between the boundary layer profile and the sand load on the wind. A useful key to the influence of each factor is obtained by noting that each has a typical and distinct ‘time constant’. The nature and relative importance of each is discussed by reference to the reported wind tunnel experiments and to the behaviour of saltation cloud numerical models. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aeolian fetch distance and secondary airflow effects: the influence of micro‐scale variables on meso‐scale foredune development

Unsuccessful attempts to use process‐scale models to predict long‐term aeolian sediment transport patterns have long been a feature of aeolian research. It has been proposed that one approach to overcome these problems is to identify micro‐scale variables that are important at longer timescales. This paper assesses the contribution of two system variables (secondary airflow patterns and fetch distance) to medium‐term (months to years) dune development. The micro‐scale importance of these variables had been established during previous work at the site (Magilligan Strand, Northern Ireland). Three methods were employed. First, sand drift potentials were calculated using 2 years of regional wind data and a sediment transport model. Second, wind data and large trench traps (2 m length × 1 m width × 1·5 m depth) were used to assess the actual sediment transport patterns over a 2‐month period. Third, a remote‐sensing technique for the identification of fetch distance, a saltation impact sensor (Safire) and wind data were utilized to gauge, qualitatively, sediment transport patterns over a 1‐month period. Secondary airflow effects were found to play a major role in the sediment flux patterns at these timescales, with measured and predicted rates matching closely during the trench trap study. The results suggest that fetch distance is an unimportant variable at this site. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Airflow and aeolian sediment transport patterns within a coastal trough blowout during lateral wind conditions

Blowouts are depressions that occur on coastal dunes, deserts and grasslands. The absence of vegetation in blowouts permits high speed winds to entrain and remove sediment. Whereas much research has examined patterns of wind flow and sediment transport on the stoss slopes and lee of sand dunes, no study has yet investigated the connections between secondary air‐flow structures and sediment transport in a blowout where zones of streamline compression, expansion and steering are less clearly delineated. In this study we investigated the variability of sediment flux and its relation to near‐surface wind speed and turbulence within a trough blowout during wind flow that was oblique to the axis of the blowout. Wind flow was measured using six, three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasonic anemometers while sediment flux by eight sand traps, all operating at 25 Hz. Results demonstrated that sediment flux rates were highly variable throughout the blowout deflation basin, even over short distances (< 0.5 m). Where flow was steadiest, flux was greatest. Consequently the highest rates of sediment transport were recorded on the erosional wall crest where flow was compressed and accelerated. The strength of correlation between sediment flux and wind parameter improved with an increase in averaging interval, from 10 seconds to 1 minute. At an interval of 10 seconds, however, wind speed correlated best with flux at seven of eight traps, whereas at an interval of one minute Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE) provided the best correlation with flux at six of the eight traps. Correlation between sediment flux and wind parameters was best in the centre of the blowout and poorest on the erosional wall crest. The evidence from this paper suggests, for the first time, that TKE may be a better predictor of sediment transport at minute scale averaging intervals, particularly over landforms where wind flow is highly turbulent. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation and measurement of surface shear stress over isolated and closely spaced transverse dunes in a wind tunnel

Topographic interactions generate multidirectional and unsteady air?ow that limits the application of velocity pro?le approaches for estimating sediment transport over dunes. Results are presented from a series of wind tunnel simulations using Irwin‐type surface‐mounted pressure sensors to measure shear stress variability directly at the surface over both isolated and closely spaced sharp‐crested model dunes. Findings complement existing theories on secondary air?ow effects on stoss transport dynamics and provide new information on the in?uence of lee‐side air?ow patterns on dune morphodynamics. For all speeds investigated, turbulent unsteadiness at the dune toe indicates a greater, more variable surface shear, despite a signi?cant drop in time‐averaged measurements of streamwise shear stress at this location. This effect is believed suf?cient to inhibit sediment deposition at the toe and may be responsible for documented intermittency in sand transport in the toe region. On the stoss slope, streamline compression and ?ow acceleration cause an increase in ?ow steadiness and shear stress to a maximum at the crest that is double that at the toe of the isolated dune and 60–70 per cent greater than at ?ow reattachment on the lower stoss of closely spaced dunes. Streamwise ?ow accelerations, rather than turbulence, have greater in?uence on stress generation on the stoss and this effect increases with stoss slope distance and with incident wind speed. Reversed ?ow within the separation cell generates signi?cant surface shear (30–40 per cent of maximum values) for both spacings. This supports ?eld studies that suggest reversed ?ow is competent enough to return sediment to the dune directly or in a de?ected direction. High variability in shear at reattachment indicates impact of a turbulent shear layer that, despite low values of time‐averaged streamwise stress in this region, would inhibit sediment accumulation. Downwind of reattachment, shear stress and ?ow steadiness increase within 6 h (h = dune height) of reattachment and approach upwind values by 25 h. A distance of at least 30 h is suggested for full boundary layer recovery, which is comparable to ?uvial estimates. The Irwin sensor used in this study provides a reliable means to measure skin friction force responsible for sand transport and its robust, simple, and cost‐effective design shows promise for validating these ?ndings in natural dune settings. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of clogging on stream macroinvertebrates: An experimental approach

The influence of streambed sediment clogging on macroinvertebrate communities was investigated in the Lemme creek (NW Italy). To assess how fine sediment accumulation can influence the colonisation process and community composition of macroinvertebrates, we placed 48 traps in the riverbed. The traps consisted of boxes built with metal net (mesh 1 cm, height 15 cm, sides 5 cm) covered with nylon net except for the apex, allowing access exclusively from the top. We created four trap types filled with 100% gravel, 30% sand and 70% gravel, 70% sand and 30% gravel and 100% sand. After 20 and 40 days, we removed 6 traps/type. Macroinvertebrates rapidly colonised the traps, as we found no significant community differences between the two removal dates. Among the four trap types, we found significant differences in taxa number and abundance, which both decreased with increasing clogging. Thus, our study supports the hypothesis that clogging and the accumulation of fine substratum elements strongly affects benthic stream communities.     

Aeolian transport rates across raked and unraked beaches on a developed coast

Wind characteristics and aeolian transport were measured on a naturally evolving beach and dune and a nearby site where the beach is raked and sand‐trapping fences are deployed. The beaches were composed of moderately well sorted to very well sorted fine to medium sand. The backshore at the raked site was wider and the foredune was more densely vegetated and about 1 m higher than at the unraked site. Wind speeds were monitored using anemometers placed at 1 m elevation and sand transport was monitored using vertical traps during oblique onshore, alongshore and offshore winds occurring in March and April 2009. Inundation of the low backshore through isolated swash channels prevented formation of a continuously decreasing cross‐shore moisture gradient. The surface of the berm crest was dryer than the backshore, making the berm crest the greatest source of offshore losses during offshore winds. The lack of storm wrack on the raked beach reduced the potential for sediment accumulation seaward of the dune crest during onshore winds, and the higher dune crest reduced wind speeds and sediment transport from the dune to the backshore during offshore winds. Accretion at wrack seaward of the dune toe on the unraked beach resulted in a wider dune field and higher, narrower backshore. Although fresh wrack is an effective local trap for aeolian transport, wrack that becomes buried appears to have little effect as a barrier and can supply dry sand for subsequent transport. Aeolian transport rates were greater on the narrower but dryer backshore of the unraked site. Vegetation growth may be necessary to trap sand within zones of buried wrack in order to allow new incipient foredunes to evolve. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gross erosion,net erosion and gross deposition of dust by wind: field data from 17 desert surfaces

Wind erosion measurements were carried out in Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, southern Nevada, USA. Gross erosion (the total mass of sediment effectively blown away from a surface), gross deposition (the total mass of sediment effectively depositing on a surface) and net erosion (the difference in sediment mass before and after an event) were measured for 1 year, on 17 different types of surfaces developed on loose dune sand, compacted sand, loose silt, compacted and/or aggregated silt, rock‐covered sands and silts, mixtures of sand, silt and clay, exposed petrocalcic horizons, gravelly substrata and bedrock. Results showed that net erosion, which is the type of erosion measured in field and laboratory experiments, strongly differs from gross erosion. Activity on a surface is much higher than classic net erosion measurements suggest. Future studies on wind erosion should better acknowledge the distinction between the two types of process. Also, a grain diameter of maximum susceptibility to wind erosion (‘optimum deflation diameter’) near 70 µm as proposed by the aeolian literature only exists for net wind erosion. No such optimum diameter was found for gross wind erosion within the particle range 0–100 µm delineating the transport modes of suspension and modified saltation. In addition, desert surfaces predominantly composed of sand did not show an optimum deflation diameter (for net erosion) around 70 µm. Instead, there was a preferential grain size around 15 µm at which particles were most vulnerable to net emission. Desert surfaces poor in sand showed the classic value of 70 µm. This suggests that interactions exist between the type of surface and the susceptibility of particles to wind erosion. This study is solely based on field data. Although results are supported by two previous wind tunnel studies, more wind tunnel experiments documenting the interactions between gross erosion and gross deposition are necessary. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of cryptogamic crust disturbance to wind erosion on sand and loam rangeland soils

A portable field wind tunnel was used to assess the sediment flux rates of loam and sand textured soils in the Mallee region of southeastern Australia. Three levels of crust disturbance (nil, moderate and severe) simulating stock trampling were investigated. The results demonstrated the importance of cryptogamic crusts in binding the soil surface and providing roughness after the soil was moderately disturbed. On the loamy soil, the crust helped maintain sediment flux rates below the erosion control target to 5 g m⁻¹ s⁻¹ for a 65 km h⁻¹ wind measured at 10 m height. Once the crust was severely disturbed, sediment fluxes increased to 1·6 times the erosion target. On the sandy soil, even with no crust disturbance the sediment flux was 1·6 times the erosion control target. Disturbing the crust increased sediment fluxes to a maximum of 6·7 times the erosion control target. Removal of the crust also decreased the threshold wind velocity that resulted in an increase to the risk of erosion from <5 per cent to 20 per cent. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wind tunnel tests of the dynamic processes that control wind erosion of a sand bed

Aeolian sand transport is a complicated process that is affected by many factors (e.g. wind velocity, sand particle size, surface microtopography). Under different experimental conditions, erosion processes will therefore produce different results. In this study, we conducted a series of wind tunnel experiments across a range of wind velocities capable of entraining sand particles (8.0, 10.0, 12.0, and 14.0 m s^-1) to study the dynamic changes of the shear velocity, aerodynamic roughness length, and sand transport. We found that the shear velocity and aerodynamic roughness length are not constant; rather, they change dynamically over time, and the rules that describe their changes depend on the free-stream air velocity. For wind tunnel experiments without feeding sand into the airflow, the sand bed elevation decreases with increasing erosion time, and this change significantly affected the values of shear velocity and aerodynamic roughness length. A Gaussian distribution function described the relationships between the sand transport rate (q_T) and the duration of wind erosion (T). It is therefore necessary for modelers to consider both deflation of the bed and the time scale used when calculating sand transport or erosion rates. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of Time-dependent Moisture Content of Surface Sediments on Aeolian Transport Rates Across a Beach,Wildwood, New Jersey,U.S.A.

A one-day field investigation on an unvegetated backbeach documents the importance of surface sediment drying to aeolian transport. Surface sediments were well sorted fine sand. Moisture content of samples taken in the moist areas on the backbeach varied from 2·9 to 9·2 per cent. Lack of dry sediment inhibited transport prior to 08:50. By 09:10 conspicuous streamers of dry sand moved across the moist surface. Barchan-shaped bedforms, 30 to 40 mm high and composed of dry sand (moisture content <0·10 per cent), formed where sand streamers converged. The surface composed of dry sand increased from 5 per cent of the area of the backbeach at 09:50 to 90 per cent by 12:50 Mean wind speeds were beetween 5·6 and 8·6 m s⁻¹ at 6 m above the backbeach. Corresponding shear velocities were always above the entrainment threshold for dry sand and below the threshold for the moist sand on the backbeach. Measured rates of sand trapped (by vertical cylindrical traps) increased during the day relative to calculated rates. The measured rate of sand trapped on the moist foreshore was higher than the rate trapped on the backbeach during the same interval, indicating that the moist foreshore (moisture content 18 per cent) was an efficient transport surface for sediment delivered from the dry portion of the beach upwind. Measured rates of sand trapped show no clear relationship to shear velocities unless time-dependent surface moisture content is considered. Results document conditions that describe transport across moist surfaces in terms of four stages including: (1) entrainment of moist sediment from a moist surface; (2) in situ drying of surface grains from a moist surface followed by transport across the surface; (3) entrainment and transport of dry sediment from bedforms that have accumulated on the moist surface; and (4) entrainment of sand from a dry upwind source and transport across a moist downwind surface. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of different mass transport calculation methods for wind erosion quantification purposes

Quantitative estimation of the material transported by the wind under field conditions is essential for the study and control of wind erosion. A critical step of this calculation is the integration of the curve that relates the variation of the amount of the material carried by the wind with height. Several mathematical procedures have been proposed for this calculation, but results are scarce and controversial. One objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of three mathematical models (a rational, an exponential, and a simplified Gaussian function) for the calculation of the mass transport, as compared to the linear spline interpolation. Another objective of this study was to compare the mass transport calculated from field measurements obtained from a minimum of three discrete sampling heights with measurements of nine sampling heights. With this purpose, wind erosion was measured under low surface roughness conditions on an Entic Haplustoll during 25 events. The rational function was found to be mathematically limited for the estimation of wind eroded sediment mass flux. The simplified Gaussian model did not fit to the vertical mass flux profile data. Linear spline interpolation generally produced higher mass transport estimates than the exponential equation, and it proved to be a very flexible and robust method. Using different sampling arrangements and different mass flux models can produce differences of more than 45% in mass transport estimates, even under similar field conditions. Under the conditions of this study, at least three points between the soil surface and 1·5 m high, including one point as closest as possible to the surface, should be sampled in order to obtain accurate mass transport estimates. Additionally, the linear spline interpolation and the non‐linear regression using an exponential model, proved to be mathematically reliable methods for calculating the mass transport. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics and variation law of wind-blown sand delivered to the Ningxia-Inner Mongolia reach of the Yellow River under a changing environment

Wind-blown sand is one of the key factors affecting the evolution of sediment transport,erosion,and deposition in rivers crossing desert areas.However,the differences and complex variations in the spatial and temporal distribution of the underlying surface conditions are seldom considered in research on the river inflow of wind-blown sand over a long time period.The Yellow River contains a large amount of sediment.The Ningxia-Inner Mongolia reach of the Yellow River was selected as the research ...     

The fetch effect on aeolian sediment transport on a sandy beach: a case study from Magilligan Strand,Northern Ireland

Experiments were conducted on Magilligan Strand, Northern Ireland, to assess the influence of the fetch effect on aeolian sediment transport. During each experiment surface sediments were uniformly dry and unhindered by vegetation or debris. The leading edge of erodible material was well defined, with the limit of wave up‐rush demarcating the wet–dry boundary; the work was conducted during low tides. A number of electronic and integrating traps were utilised, with two ultrasonic anemometers used to measure wind direction and velocity at 1 Hz. The combination of 1^o direction data and trap locations resulted in a range of fetch distances, from 2 to 26 m. Data integrated over 15‐minute intervals (corresponding to the integrating trap data) revealed a distinct trend for all the experiments. An initial rapid increase in the transport rate occurred over a short distance (4–9 m). This maximum transport rate was maintained for a further 5–6 m before a steady decay in the flux followed, as fetch distance increased. A measured reduction in wind speed (6–8%) across the beach suggests a negative feedback mechanism may be responsible for the diminishing transport rate: the saltating grains induce energy dissipation, thus reducing the capability of the wind to maintain transport. For one experiment, the presence of compact sediment patches may also have contributed to the reduction of the transport rate. The decay trend calls into question the utility of the fetch effect as an important parameter in aeolian studies that seek to understand sediment budgets of the foredune‐beach zone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aeolian sand transport at the Lanphere Dunes,Northern California

Aeolian sand transport was studied at the Lanphere Dunes, a coastal dune complex in northern California, by comparing slipface advance rates with transport predicted based on local wind data. The slipfaces of a 2·5 m high transverse ridge and 10 m high parabolic dune were monitored over a period of three months to estimate sand discharge. The study was performed during the dry season, which has the maximum sand‐driving potential. Over the three month study period, average sand discharge was 12·5 m³ per m width per year at the transverse ridge and 8·8 m³ per m width per year at the parabolic dune. A method was developed for modelling slipfaces that are sinuous and where sediment transport rates are not constant across the width of the slipface. Field measurements were used to generate three‐dimensional representations of dune slipfaces. Periodic measurements over the course of three months were used to compute the volume of displaced sediment. Theoretical sand transport was computed from local wind data using the Bagnold model and compared with the observed transport rates. Predicted rates were substantially lower than observed rates. Wind velocities rarely exceeded the threshold velocity. Discrepancies between the observed and predicted values appear to be caused by a combination of wind data recording procedures and differences between wind velocities at the anemometer location and the site where sand transport was measured. Wind data collected by weather bureaux have been utilized in numerous studies for modelling sediment transport. Such data typically have sample intervals of one hour or greater and are often averaged prior to reporting. The effect of averaging was investigated by comparing sand transport estimates based on daily average wind velocities with those based on the original hourly observations. The daily average data were depleted of high velocity winds and sand transport estimates were accordingly much lower than those based on the hourly data. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sampling Fauna in Stream Sediments as well as Groundwater Using One Net Sampler

Groundwater bores act as traps. Net samplers are regularly used for sampling this type of trap for fauna. To enable direct comparisons of faunal communities in groundwater bores and stream sediments, stream sediment tubes were built similar to groundwater bores and were sampled with net samplers for fauna. These stream sediment tubes consisted of a tube anchored in the stream sediment, also called interstitial space. To test the efficacy of this trap method in stream sediments, it was compared to another type of trap, Hahn's trap. Faunal communities sampled by a net in the stream sediment tubes did not differ hugely from fauna in Hahn's trap samples. Physical and chemical factors of sampled water in both the stream sediment tubes, the surrounding interstitial sediments and the second type of traps, Hahn's traps, showed that water in both the tubes and Hahn's traps was closely related to interstitial water. The net sampler is inexpensive and easy to handle. It is suggested that sampling stream tubes with nets may be an appropriate method for long‐term monitoring studies.     

Horizontal water trap for measurement of aeolian sand transport

A new type of horizontal trap was developed for measuring the aeolian sand transport rate on a flat surface. The trap consists of an adjustable frame that is embedded level with the sand surface, into which a plastic liner is installed and filled with water to capture the blown sand. The water trap has high efficiency and does not disturb the wind field or induce upwind scour. Deployment on Padre Island, Texas, indicated that this portable and adjustable trap catches and retains all the sand blown into it, even under relatively strong wind. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.