Client file can be brought into the rweq program, modified to represent a different field and saved under a new client filename. Wind erosion assessment in austria using wind erosion equation. Tables listing the prevailing wind erosion direction by month for many locations in the united states are available see nrcs weq web site address at the end of this document. Particle dynamics are described in terms of suspension, saltation, surface creep, abrasion, sorting and. Modeling of wind erosion of the aitik tailings dam using. A gis version of the revised wind erosion equation rweq was developed in jrc to model at large scale wind erosion.
This cali bration of a portable wind tunnel was used to evaluate ridge roughness equivalent for many field surfaces. This experiment quickly shows the devastating effects of the wind on an unprotected substance. Wind is an element that speeds the erosion process. Pdf studies on soil wind erosion began with single factors affecting soil wind erosion. It is also a major source of land degradation, evaporation, desertification, harmful airborne dust, and crop damageespecially after being increased far above natural rates by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture. Separating the climatic and anthropogenic causes of wind erosion can improve the understanding of its driving mechanisms. Wind erosion assessment in austria using wind erosion equation and gis. Wind erosion equation weq guidance document use of microsoft excel spreadsheet model purpose this guidance document will give the basic instructions to use the wind erosion equation weq microsoft excel spreadsheet, computer version, developed by keep, sporcic and nelson. Locate the windparm data for your state and manually copy this data. This nebguide discusses how wind erosion occurs and presents methods for reducing wind erosion on land devoted to crop production. To copy the needed data from the above file, open the weq master file weqvs8.
To demonstrate wind erosion, the oracle thinkquest website recommends filling a box with sand and blowing across the top. This information is provided by the usda engineering and wind erosion research unit in cooperation. Wind can erode nonvegetated areas and was responsible for the great dust bowl in the early 1900s. The maximum average annual soil erosion occurs at a field. Rainwater in the form of runoff is the main driver of water erosion. Geographic information system gis represents a modem tool that analyzes and creates maps to solve wind erosion problems. The wind erosion predic tion system weps is a processbased, continuous model that simulates creep, saltation, and suspension processes for agriculture soils under a.
Based on meteorological, remote sensing and field observation data, we applied the revised wind erosion equation rweq to simulate wind erosion in inner mongolia, china from 1990 to 2015. The detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil by wind. There is a need for more information about wind erosion than just rotational average tonsacreyear we get now. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. The two things that must be done are reduce the windspeed at ground level and increase soil cohesion. Waves, generated by storms, wind, or fast moving motor craft, cause coastal erosion, which.
Determining wind erosion in the great plains iowa state university. Using a series of submodels, weps simulates wind erosion, as well as the daily weather, hydrology, soil, tillage, and biomass conditions that control wind erosion on a field scale. It is a dynamic, physical process where loose, dry, bare soils are transported by strong winds. Pdf soil erosion by wind is a serious problem in many parts of europe and leads. This video will help you better understand the problems associated with wind erosion of soil. E f ikclv wherein e is the average annual soil loss, expressed in tons per acre per year. Weps is designed to provide estimates of soil loss by wind from cultivated. There are various methods of biological and physical methods to control wind erosion, including windbreakers, maintaining vegetation residues on the soil surface, utilizing stable soil aggregates or clods. Soil erosion by wind in european agricultural soils.
Pdf cogitation on developing a dynamic model of soil wind erosion. Wind erosion refers to the detachment, transport, and deposition of sediment by wind. With that in mind, there are other ways to control the erosion through controlling the soil. Wind erosion prediction system weps a processbased model is now used by nrcs and weq is no longer actively supported by usdanrcs for conservation planning. Archived wind erosion equation weq weq an empirical wind erosion prediction model was previously used and maintained by usdanrcs. Using this tool, wind erosion equation weq acquires a new dimension to evaluate soil loss caused by wind erosion that can be identified exactly for certain field in the selected area. Water erosion is very simplistically speaking caused by rainfall, river flow, waves wave action, hydraulic action and abrasion, corrosion, glacier movement, thawing, etc. The wind erosion equation is used to predict soil loss by wind forces from specific field areas. Helpful hint for determining wind erodibility index wei. Wind erosion equation weq recent changes to weq a slide presentation download the powerpoint presentation 1. Coastal erosion coastal erosion is the wearing away of land and the removal of beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, or drainage see also beach evolution. The wind, after all, is a seemingly unstoppable force. Equations for predicting soil loss due to wind erosion.
Universal soil erosion equation beginning 10,000 years ago, during a period called the neolithic, people started farming in jordan. In the past, wind erosion losses have been estimated by the wind erosion equation7. It refers to the movement of soil organic and inorganic particles along the soil surface with flowing water and deposition of the eroded materials at lower landscape. There is a need for an easier to use and a faster model. Identifying areas sensitive to wind erosiona case study of the ap.
Water erosion is the wearing away of the soil surface by water from rain, runoff, snowmelt, and irrigation. Wind erosion is widespread on agricultural land in the. An equation in the form of universal soil loss equation has been developed and can be used for estimating soil loss by wind. The once green pastures of eastern inner mongolia lately resemble a scene. The document may be out of date and related to a previous version of the section. Field verification was not possible as field erosion measurement equipment was not ava ilable at that time. Factors effecting the wind erodibility of soil have been extensively researched over the last 45 years. The rate of soil flow varies with ridge height, degree of cloddiness of ridges, and wind velocity 1.
Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. However, the evaluation of the constants in the equation for wind erosion is comparatively difficult than the universal soil loss equation. An overview of the wind erosion prediction system introduction soil erosion by wind is a serious problem in the united states and the world. The wind erosion equation was developed by the late dr. Wind erosion equation weq does not predict wind erosion where erosion is observed in. The environmental policy integrated climate model epic has been used to evaluate policy effects on soil erosion. The wind erosion equation was derived in laboratory wind tunnels from measurement of basic physical processes in the 1960s. These actions depend mainly on the type of soil, the climate, the vegetation cover, the speed and frequency of wind. Wind erosion wind erosion is the form of soil degradation by the action of the wind which abrades, transports and deposes soil sand particles. Wind erosion is a major geomorphological force, especially in arid and semiarid regions. It is the result of nearly 30 years of research to determine the primary variables or factors that influence erosion of soil by wind. Dust emissions may be generated by wind erosion of open aggregate storage piles and exposed areas within an industrial facility. For nutrient management nrcs 590 standard planning purpose s and for operations needing coverage under denrs 2017 general permit, water and wind erosion, both have to be taken into account.
E the predicted average annual soil loss in tons per acre per year. Wind erosion equation weq colorado guidance document use. The rweq revised wind erosion equation was reported in 1998 by fryrear et. A wind erosion equation, soil science society of america proceedings, vol. There are two options for loading the appropriate wind parameters into the weq excel spreadsheet model. The wind energy is expressed as the annual cumulative amount on a monthly basis. Wind erosion modelling in a sahelian environment utrecht. Revise wind erosion models more accurately portrays the physical processes of wind erosion estimates wind erosion based on wind velocity, rainfall characteristics, soil roughness, erodible fraction of soil, crusts, surface residues and other dynamic factors.
Wind erosion of soil is a global phenomenon that 52 occurs in arid and semiarid regions worldwide shao, 2008. These sources typically are characterized by nonhomogeneous surfaces impregnated with nonerodible elements particles larger than approximately 1 centimeter cm in diameter. X wind tunnel erodibility chepil and woodruff, 1959. Solutions to wind and water erosions by elijah williams.
Pdf an introduction to the wind erosion prediction system weps. The rela tionship between soil flow and ridge height, within pre scribed limits, follows an approximate catenary curve. The various components of rweq were developed from controlled laboratory and field studies, but the actual transport model was calibrated using field data of transport mass. As you blow, the sand will swiftly move away from your breath, just as. The model is designed to predict the daily soil loss potential by wind erosion at 1km spatial resolution. The revised wind erosion equation rweq poorly predicted maximum mass transport and so. Combining the technology of these erosion equations with databases and computers, the equations are replaced by wind erosion prediction system weps. Excel workbook, are 1 prevailing wind erosion direction, 2 preponderance, and 3 wind energy. Validation of the wind erosion stochastic simulator wess. One of americas worst environmental disasters happened on the prairies of the southern great plains.
This facilitates developing a management template that fryrear, d. A wind erosion equation woodruff 1965 soil science society of. It is intended to replace the predominately empirical wind erosion equation weq. The critical wind erosion period is that part of the year when agricultural fields are particularly vulnerable to wind erosion. Wind erosion equation weq does not predict wind erosion where erosion is observed in some areas. Basic wind erosion processes are discussed under the major headings of soil particle dynamics, particle flow rates, and principles and general strategies of control. Wind erosion is controlled by reducing the wind forces on erodible soil particles or by creating aggregates on soil surfaces that are. The first wind erosion equation was a simple exponen. Lyon, extension dryland crops specialist, and john a. Large groups of people lived together in lowland and hillside landscapes that they had cleared of trees and.