Search for: All records

Soil erosion by wind has been found to be negatively related to soil water content, as evidenced by that for a given area, such a soil erosion can be much less in a wet than a dry year. However, few studies have examined the functional relationship between wind erosion and soil moisture, primarily due to lack of field measured data. The objectives of this study were to: 1) measure wind erosion in field using a portable wind tunnel devised and made by the authors; and 2) use the measured data to calibrate/validate a wind erosion model previously developed by the authors. The study was conducted in the steppe grassland within the Balaguer watershed located in north China. As part of a larger project funded by National Science Foundation, this study focused on soil conditions with a minimal vegetation coverage to understand the functional relationship between wind erosion, soil moisture, and climate. These conditions are similar with those when the grassland degrades and ultimately becomes deserted. Field samples were analyzed in laboratory to determine the soil characteristics (e.g., moisture content, texture, hydraulic conductivity, and organic content). In this conference, we will present our portable wind tunnel, measured data, and the wind erosion model and its predictions.