Threshold velocities for input of soil particles into the air by desert soils

Conference · Mon Oct 20 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5570693

Gillette, D A; Adams, J; Endo, A; Smith, D; Kihl, R

Desert soils mostly from the Mojave Desert were tested for threshold friction velocity (the friction velocity above which soil erosion takes place) with an open-bottomed portable wind tunnel. Several geomorphological settings were chosen to be representative of much of the surface of the Mojave Desert, for example, playas, alluvial fans, and aeolian features. Variables which increase threshold velocity are decreasing proportion of sand, increasing size of dry aggregates of the soil, and increasing fraction of the soil mass larger than 1 mm. Threshold velocity increases with different types of soil surfaces in the following order: disturbed soils (except disturbed heavy clay soils), sand dunes, alluvial and aeolian sand deposits, disturbed playa soils, skirts of playas, playa centers, and desert pavement (alluvial deposits). 21 references, 5 figures, 6 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Colorado, Boulder
• OSTI ID: 5570693
• Report Number(s): CONF-790842-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Journal Volume: 85:C10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
ARID LANDS
DESERTS
DISTURBANCES
EROSION
FRICTION
PARTICLE SIZE
POLLUTION
SAND
SIZE
SOILS
TUNNELS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
VELOCITY
WIND
WIND TUNNELS