Open AccessWind erosion prediction over the Australian continent
Author(s) -
Shao Yaping,
Leslie Lance M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/97jd02298
Subject(s) - aeolian processes , environmental science , storm , erosion , dust storm , vegetation (pathology) , meteorology , wind speed , climatology , geology , geography , geomorphology , medicine , paleontology , pathology
Wind erosion is a complicated process influenced by weather patterns, soil conditions, and vegetation cover. In this work we present an integrated wind erosion assessment and prediction system which couples a wind erosion scheme with an atmospheric prediction model and a Geographic Information System database. The system is applied to the February 1996 dust storms over the Australian continent, and the predictions are in good agreement with meteorological records and satellite images. It is found that over the 1 week period from February 6 to 12, 1996, the total dust emission from the Australian continent was around 6 million tons. As demonstrated in this study, the system can be used to identify areas and periods under wind erosion threat and to identify the responsible environmental factors. For atmospheric studies the integrated system provides a possibility of quantifying the sources of dust particles which in turn play an important role in atmospheric radiative processes.