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On the effect of mid‐air collisions on aeolian saltation
Author(s) -
SØRENSEN MICHAEL,
McEWAN IAN
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
sedimentology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.494
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1365-3091
pISSN - 0037-0746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1996.tb01460.x
Subject(s) - aeolian processes , ejecta , wind speed , collision , geology , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , mechanics , geomorphology , physics , oceanography , computer security , quantum mechanics , supernova , computer science
The effect of mid‐air collisions on aeolian saltation is investigated using concentration profiles and grain velocities predicted by a numerical saltation model. The probability of a mid‐air collision is found to be greater at high wind speeds. It is also found that mid‐air collisions tend to reduce the number of grain/bed impacts and thus reduce the number of ejecta near the bed; this, in turn, reduces the intensity of mid‐air collisions. It is suggested that this feed‐back mechanism significantly influences transport rates at high wind speeds.