Superposition of aeolian dust ripple patterns as a result of changing wind directions

The effect of a change of wind direction on the orientation (and some other morphometric characteristics) of aeolian dust ripples is investigated. Ripple formation is simulated in a wind tunnel on surfaces that are already characterized by a previously established rippling. The effect of a wind rotation of 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees is examined. It is found that wind rotations of 45 and 180 degrees will lead towards a ripple alignment perpendicular to the last air flow. A wind rotation of 90 degrees, however, leads towards a ripple alignment perpendicular to the resultant wind direction. The faster the wind blows, the more this effect is expressed. No distinct relationship exists between the asymmetry of a dust ripple (and a dust ripple field) and the direction of the wind blowing as the ripples formed. As the orientation and asymmetry of aeolian dust ripples do not necessarily reflect the air flow direction during which the ripples formed, great care should be taken when reconstructing wind directions from such aeolian ripples.     

Wind erosion characteristics of Sahelian surface types

The assessment of wind erosion magnitudes for a given area requires knowledge of wind erosion susceptibilities of the dominant local surface types. Relative wind erosion potentials of surfaces can hardly be compared under field conditions, as each erosion event is unique in terms of duration, intensity and extent. The objective of this study was to determine and compare relative wind erosion potentials of the most representative surface types over a transect comprising most parts of southwestern Niger. For this purpose, mobile wind tunnel experiments were run on 26 dominant surface types. The effects of surface disturbance were additionally determined for 13 of these surfaces. The results, namely measurements of wind fields and mass fluxes, can be classified according to specific surface characteristics. Three basic surface groups with similar emission behaviour and aerodynamic characteristics were identified: (1) sand surfaces, (2) rough stone surfaces and (3) flat crusted surfaces. Sand surfaces feature a turbulent zone close to the surface due to the development of a saltation layer. Their surface roughness is medium to high, as a consequence of the loss of kinetic energy of the wind field to saltating particles. Sand surfaces show the highest mass fluxes due to the abundance of loose particles, but also fairly high PM10 fluxes, as potential dust particles are not contained in stable crusts or aggregates. Rough stone surfaces, due to their fragmented and irregular surface, feature the highest surface roughness and the most intense turbulence. They are among the weakest emitters but, due to their relatively high share of potential dust particles, PM10 emissions are still average. Flat crusted surfaces, in contrast, show low turbulence and the lowest surface roughness. This group of surfaces shows rather heterogeneous mass fluxes, which range from moderate to almost zero, although the share of PM10 particles is always relatively high. Topsoil disturbance always results in higher total and PM10 emissions on sand surfaces and also on flat crusted surfaces. Stone surfaces regularly exhibit a decrease in emission after disturbance, which can possibly be attributed to a reorganization which protects finer particles from entrainment. The results are comparable with field studies of natural erosion events and similar wind tunnel field campaigns. The broad range of tested surfaces and the standardized methodology are a precondition for the future regionalization of the experimental point data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

夜间稳定边界层中小尺度地形激发的形式阻力和波动阻力

通过求解含有摩擦耗散的线性化大气动力学方程组,得到了在夜间稳定大气边界层中小尺度地形产生的波动阻力和形式阻力的解析解.结果表明边界层中的稳定度、风速和湍流状态、边界层厚度、上部残余层中的稳定度和风速以及地形高度和坡度,都会影响波动阻力和形式阻力的大小,应在数值模式的参数化方案中给予考虑.分析还表明,当地形坡度减到一定程度时,形式阻力可以忽略不计.     

Effect of rock fragment embedding on the aeolian deposition of dust on stone‐covered surfaces

Many stone‐covered surfaces on Earth are subject to aeolian deposition of atmospheric dust. This study investigates how the deposition of dust is affected when rock fragments become gradually more embedded in the ground or, inversely, become more concentrated on the surface. Experiments were executed in an aeolian dust wind tunnel with eight different types of pebbles. The following parameters were measured: dust deposition on the pebbles, dust deposition between and underneath pebbles, total dust deposition (pebbles + inter‐pebble space), and the fraction, of total deposition, of dust caught by the pebbles alone. The absolute amount of dust deposition and the dust deposition density (dust deposition per unit surface) were studied for each parameter. The effects exerted by pebble size, pebble flattening, pebble elongation and wind speed were also investigated. Dust patterns on and around pebbles were also studied via flow visualization. The absolute amount of dust settling on pebbles decreases the more that the pebbles become embedded. Dust deposition density on pebbles, on the other hand, increases with embedding. The more pebbles become embedded in the soil, the more efficient the process of dust deposition on pebbles becomes. Dust deposition between and underneath pebbles increases with pebble embedding. Dust deposition density between and underneath pebbles is maximum at 50 per cent embedding, showing that in this area dust deposition is most efficient when pebbles are halfway embedded. Total deposition slightly decreases the more pebbles become embedded, but total dust deposition density increases with embedding. Aerodynamic flow separation and diverging and converging airflow play an important role in the process of dust deposition on stone‐covered surfaces. The more pebbles protrude above the soil, the more they act as an obstacle and the more they disturb the air and dust flow creating scouring zones, flow separation bubbles and shelter areas for the dust. All these effects diminish as pebbles become more embedded in the soil. However, perturbations in dust patterns remain visible until pebbles have disappeared entirely. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aeolian deposition of dust over hills: the effect of dust grain size on the deposition pattern

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of topography on the grain size characteristics of aeolian dust deposits. Experiments were performed on three isolated hills having various size and aspect ratios. The longitudinal profile of the median grain diameter was investigated for each hill. The longitudinal dust deposition profile was also studied for nine grain size classes of between 10 and 104 µm, as were wind and dust concentration profiles in the atmosphere upwind of, over and downwind of a hill. The wind tunnel experiments show that the grain size characteristics of aeolian dust deposits are affected by topography. Most apparent is the occurrence of a zone of reduced grain size on the leeside of hills, which extends from just upwind of the summit to a distance of several times the height of the hill. Slightly coarser than normal dust is deposited on the concave windward hill slope and in a zone downwind of the area of reduced grain size, but the increase in grain size in these zones remains very small. Although the normalized dust deposition profile for a hill does not vary substantially as a function of grain size, systematic trends are observed. The most important tendencies are: (1) a progressive extension, in the downwind direction, of a zone of decreased dust deposition on the leeside of a hill (the coarser the grains, the further downwind the zone of reduced deposition extends); (2) a progressive increase in dust deposition immediately upwind of a hill (the finer the grains, the higher the deposition value upwind of a hill becomes). Both tendencies are explained by the difference in inertia of the grains, which is controlled by grain size. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The aeolian dust accumulation curve

This article presents a simple physical concept of aeolian dust accumulation, based on the behaviour of the subprocesses of dust deposition and dust erosion. The concept is tested in an aeolian dust wind tunnel. The agreement between the accumulation curve predicted by the model and the accumulation curve obtained in the experiments is close to perfect and shows that it is necessary to discriminate between the processes of aeolian dust deposition and aeolian dust accumulation. Two important thresholds determine the accumulation process. For wind speeds below the deflation threshold, the aeolian accumulation of dust increases linearly with the wind speed. For wind velocities between the deflation threshold and the accumulation limit, the sedimentation balance is above unity and there is still accumulation, though it rapidly drops once the deflation threshold has been exceeded. At wind speeds beyond the accumulation limit, the sedimentation balance is below unity and there will no longer be an accumulation of dust. The thresholds have been determined in a wind tunnel test at friction velocity u_* = 0·34 m s^?1 (deflation threshold) and u_* = 0·43 m s^?1 (accumulation limit), but these values are only indicative since they depend heavily on the characteristics of the accumulation surface and of the airborne grains. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relative quantification of wind erosion in argan woodlands in the Souss Basin,Morocco

The endemic argan woodlands cover large parts of South Morocco and create a characteristic landscape with areas of sparsely vegetated and bare soil surfaces between single trees. This unique ecosystem has been under extensive agrosilvopastoral management for centuries and is now at risk of degradation caused by overgrazing and increasing scarcity and variability of rainfall. To investigate susceptibility to wind erosion, we conducted an experimental–empirical study including wind tunnel tests and a drone-generated digital elevation model and quantified wind-erodible material on five different associated surface types by means of sediment catchers. The highest emission flux was measured on freshly ploughed surfaces (1875 g m^–2 h^–1), while older ploughed areas with a re-established crust produced a much lower emission flux (795 g m^–2 h^–1). Extensive tillage may have been a sustainable practice for generations, but increasing drought and uncertainty of rainfall now lead to an acute risk of severe soil erosion and dust production. The typical crusted surfaces characterized by residual rock fragment accumulation and wash processes produced the second highest emission flux (1,354 g m^–2 h^–1). Material collected from tree-shaded areas (933 g m^–2 h^–1) was revealed to be a considerable source of organic material, possibly affecting substrate conditions positively on a larger regional scale. The lowest flux was measured on rock fragment-covered surfaces (301 g m^–2 h^–1). The data show that open argan woodland may be a considerable source for wind erosion and dust production, depending on surface characteristics strongly related to management. An adapted management must include the conservation of argan trees to offer a promising approach to prevent severe wind erosion and dust production and mitigate possible impacts of land-use change and climate change related shifts in wind and rainfall patterns. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd     

Dust emission from wet and dry playas in the Mojave Desert,USA

The interactions between playa hydrology and playa‐surface sediments are important factors that control the type and amount of dust emitted from playas as a result of wind erosion. The production of evaporite minerals during evaporative loss of near‐surface ground water results in both the creation and maintenance of several centimeters or more of loose sediment on and near the surfaces of wet playas. Observations that characterize the texture, mineralogic composition and hardness of playa – surfaces at Franklin Lake, Soda Lake and West Cronese Lake playas in the Mojave Desert (California), along with imaging of dust emission using automated digital photography, indicate that these kinds of surface sediment are highly susceptible to dust emission. The surfaces of wet playas are dynamic surface texture and sediment availability to wind erosion change rapidly, primarily in response to fluctuations in water‐table depth, rainfall and rates of evaporation. In contrast, dry playas are characterized by ground water at depth. Consequently, dry playas commonly have hard surfaces that produce little or no dust if undisturbed except for transient silt and clay deposited on surfaces by wind and water. Although not the dominant type of global dust, salt‐rich dusts from wet playas may be important with respect to radiative properties of dust plumes, atmospheric chemistry, windborne nutrients and human health. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence for direct suspension of loessial soils on the Columbia Plateau

Wind erosion modelling efforts, both ?eld and wind tunnel studies, have traditionally focused on saltation‐based processes for estimating dust emissions from high wind events. This approach gives generally good results when saltation‐sized particles, 90 µm to 2 mm mean diameter, are prevalent on the exposed soil surface. The Columbia Plateau, located in north‐central Oregon and south‐central Washington, is a region with extensive loess deposits where up to 90 per cent of sieved particles (by mass) are less than 100 µm mean diameter. During high‐wind events, large amounts of soil and ?ne particulate matter are suspended. However, ?eld surfaces typically show little evidence of surface scouring or saltation, e.g. soil drifts or covered furrows. Velocity pro?le analysis of two high‐wind events and additional data from a third event show evidence of direct suspension process where saltation is not a major mechanism for eroding soil or generating dust emissions. Surface roughness heights are less than saltation roughness height estimates during peak wind speeds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of the drag law for air–sea momentum exchange

In this paper, we use the inertial coupling relation as a similarity model for the air–sea boundary layer, to predict the 10-m drag coefficient. Excellent agreement with the commonly used statistical relationship of Garratt (1992) is found for a fully developed growing wind wave sea with a constant inertial drag coefficient, K_I = 1.5 × 10^–3. This suggests that the inertial coupling model can be used to realistically predict the 10 m drag coefficient under more general wind wave conditions.Acknowledgements The paper was completed while JATB was a Fellow at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg in Delmenhorst, Germany, in July and August 2004. The comments of two anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.     

A new airborne Polar Nephelometer for the measurement of optical and microphysical cloud properties. Part II: Preliminary tests

A new optical sensor, the airborne Polar Nephelometer, has been tested in an open wind tunnel. The wind tunnel was operated in cloudy conditions including either cloud water droplets or ice crystals, or a mixture of these particles. The sensor is designed to measure the optical and microphysical parameters of cloud particles sized from a few micrometers to about 500 m diameter. Basically, the probe measures the scattering phase function of an ensemble of cloud particles which intersect a collimated laser beam near the focal point of a paraboloidal mirror. From the measured scattering phase function the retrieval of the droplet-size spectra and subsequent derived quantities such as liquid water content and size parameters can be calculated using an inversion method. The particle phase discrimination (water droplets/ice particles) can be derived from the shape of the scattering phase function and the sensitivity of the probe allows the detection of small ice crystals (typically of 5 m diameter). The paper describes the preliminary results obtained by the prototype version of the Polar Nephelometer in various cloudy conditions. These results are compared with direct microphysical measurements obtained by usual PMS probes also mounted in the wind tunnel. Complementary results obtained in a cold chamber are presented in order to illustrate the reliability of the Polar Nephelometer in the presence of small ice crystals.     

矩形高层建筑扭转动力风荷载解析模型

本文通过研究不同长宽比、高宽比的矩形棱柱体在边界层风洞中典型攻角下的扭矩，提出了矩形高层建筑扭矩功率谱密度、均方根扭矩系数和Strouhal数的经验公式，并对相干函数作了一定的探讨，建立了完整的扭转动力风荷载解析模型。该模型和试验结果吻合较好，证明它是合理有效的，可在此基础上建立高层建筑扭转动力响应频域计算方法。     

Regional grain size variations in aeolian sediments along the transition between Tibetan highlands and north‐western Chinese deserts – the influence of geomorphological settings on aeolian transport pathways

Sediment distribution is investigated applying grain size analysis to 279 surface samples from the transitional zone between high mountains (Qilian Shan) and their arid forelands (Hexi Corridor) in north‐western China. Six main sediment types were classified. Medium scale (10³ m) geomorphological setting is carefully considered as it may play an important role concerning sediment supply and availability. A tripartite distribution of sedimentological landscape units along the mountain to foreland transition is evident. Aeolian sediments (e.g. loess and dune sands) are widespread. They are used to identify aeolian transport pathways. The mU/fS‐ratio (5–11 µm/48–70 µm) among primary loess opposes the two grain size fractions being most sensitive to varying accumulation conditions. The first fraction is attributed to long‐distance transport in high suspension clouds whereas the latter represents local transport in saltation mode. The ratio shows strong correlation with elevation (R² = 0.77). Thus, it indicates a relatively higher far‐traveled dust supply in mountainous areas (>3000 m above sea level [a.s.l.]) compared to the foreland. The contribution of westerlies to high mountain loess deposits is considered likely. Hereby, the influence of the geomorphological setting on grain size composition of aeolian sediments becomes apparent: the contribution from distant dust sources is ubiquitous in the study area. However, the far‐distance contribution may be reduced by the availability of fine sand provided in low topography settings. Plain foreland areas support fine sand deflation from supplying river beds, allowing the formation of sandy loess in foreland areas and intramontane basins. In contrast, high mountain topography inhibits strong sand deflation into loess deposits. Eastern parts of the Hexi Corridor show higher aeolian sand occurrence. In contrast, the western parts are dominated by gravel gobi surfaces. This is attributed to higher sand supply in eastern parts provided by the Badain Jaran Desert and fluvial storages as sand sources. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characteristics of aeolian grain transport over a fluvio-glacial lacustrine braid delta,Lake Tekapo,New Zealand

This paper presents results from one of the few scientific studies to examine the physical characteristics of aeolian sediment transport in an alpine area, where topographically reinforced foehn winds initiate dust storm events. The major objective of this study is to improve knowledge of aeolian processes in mid-latitude alpine regions experiencing extreme wind speeds. Of particular interest is the role of surface characteristics in contributing to the unusually deep saltation layer which is seen to form over fluvio-glacial deposits in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Sediment was collected at several heights (0ċ5, 1, 2 and 4 m) and locations over a large alpine braided river delta, and standard laboratory techniques used to examine grain size characteristics. An image processing technique was also used to evaluate grain roundness. Grains filtered from the airstream at 0ċ5 m and 1 m above such surfaces were found to display a mean grain size of approximately 300 to 435 μm, resembling grain size characteristics of saltation clouds previously observed in high latitude, cold climate locations, in contrast to desert and prairie environments. Samples collected at 2 and 4 m above the surface were found to consist of 60 to 65 per cent sand-sized material, with some grains exceeding 1–1ċ5 mm in diameter. Grain shape analysis conducted on silt- and clay-sized grains filtered from the airstream above mixed sand and gravel surfaces showed such grains to display an increase in grain roundness with height. This characteristic is thought to reflect the airstream's shape-sorting ability and has important implications with respect to the often observed increase in grain roundness in aeolian deposits with increasing distance from source areas. Namely, if more rounded grains are preferentially carried higher into the airstream and therefore into regions of higher wind speed, they should theoretically be transported further from the entrainment zone before being deposited. The high wind speeds observed, often exceeding 30 m s⁻¹, are seen to transport significantly larger sediment than reported in the literature for desert and prairie environments. In addition, the mixture of grain sizes, and especially the pebble- and cobble-sized clasts that dominate the fluvio-glacial deposits associated with the braided rivers in this mountain region, also appear to increase significantly the trajectory height of saltating sand grains. As a result of these two factors, the depth of the saltation cloud often exceeds 1 m. Observations made in this study therefore highlight the need for field and laboratory aeolian process studies to be extended to examine grain transport over coarse-grained beds during much higher wind velocities than typically reported in the literature. Such studies would provide a valuable insight into aeolian processes in high latitude/altitude environments, such as loess genesis. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大气阻力引起卫星轨道衰减的数值模拟

本文以德国低轨道卫星CHAMP为例,联合考虑地球扁率和大气阻力摄动的影响,对相应摄动方程进行数值积分,计算轨道根数变化,并进而计算得到卫星空间位置,由此模拟考察大气阻力引起的轨道高度衰减.模拟中使用综合考虑了太阳辐射和磁暴等多种因素影响的最新国际大气标准JB2008模式来计算热层大气密度. 选取CHAMP卫星轨道高度自然衰减（无点火提升卫星高度操作）的2005全年进行模拟;为了考察不同年份阻力系数的可能变化,对2002年1—3月处在较大高度的轨道也进行了模拟.考虑到CHAMP卫星的特殊几何构形及飞行高度的热层温度条件,取阻力系数大于2.8,并在一定范围内变化,以求得模拟与实际轨道衰减符合较好.结果表明,对于2005年,阻力系数为2.91时模拟得到的轨道高度的衰减与实际轨道衰减符合得最好,模拟与实际轨道半长轴全年的标准偏差为81m;在卫星高度稍高的2002年,模拟的最佳阻力系数为3.0;模拟所得最佳阻力系数值比传统使用的值2.2大30%以上.由于在模拟中忽略了高阶保守力分量,所得近/远地点高度没有出现实际轨道所显示的周期性起伏.     

The origin of accretionary lapilli

Experimental investigations in a recirculating wind tunnel of the mechanisms of formation of accretionary lapilli have demonstrated that growth is controlled by collision of liquid-coated particles, due to differences in fall velocities, and binding as a result of surface tension forces and secondary mineral growth. The liquids present on particle surfaces in eruption plumes are acid solutions stable at 100% relative humidity, from which secondary minerals, e.g. calcium sulphate and sodium chloride, precipitate prior to impact of accretionary lapilli with the ground. Concentric grain-size zones within accretionary lapilli build up due to differences in the supply of particular particle sizes during aggregate growth. Accretionary lapilli do not evolve by scavenging of particles by liquid drops followed by evaporation — a process which, in wind tunnel experiments, generates horizontally layered hemispherical aggregates. Size analysis of particles in the wind tunnel air stream and particles adhering to growing aggregates demonstrate that the aggregation coefficient is highly grain-size dependent. Theoretical simulation of accretionary lapilli growth in eruption plumes predicts maximum sizes in the range 0.7–20 mm for ash cloud thicknesses of 0.5–10 km respectively.     

Dry aeolian dust accumulation in rocky deserts: ­a medium‐term field experiment based on short‐term wind tunnel simulations

The spatial pattern of medium‐term (a few months) dry aeolian dust accumulation in rocky deserts is predicted using short‐term deposition and erosion experiments in a wind tunnel. The predictions are tested in a field experiment set up in the northern Negev Desert of Israel. The results show that superimposing wind tunnel deposition and erosion maps usually leads to correct predictions of medium‐term dust accumulation. The predictions are somewhat less confident near the inflection lines of windward hillslopes, where small‐scale irregularities in the local topography make it difficult to locate the exact position of the areas of little accumulation. Elsewhere in the topography predictions are good, and the method works satisfactorily. Highest accumulation occurs on concave windward slopes and, to a lesser extent, on slopes parallel to the wind. Little accumulation occurs on the convex windward slopes and in dust separation bubbles. The smallest accumulation rates are observed immediately upwind of the top of pronounced hills and on leeslopes. The rate of dry dust accumulation measured during the field experiment varied from 17 to 93 g m⁻² a⁻¹, depending on the topographic position of the accumulation plots. For most plots, it was of the order of 30–60 g m⁻² a⁻¹. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.