In wind erosion, the maximum portion of soil is transported by the process of ____________.
Understanding Wind Erosion Soil Transport
Wind erosion is the process by which wind removes and transports soil particles. This movement occurs through several mechanisms, each dependent on particle size and wind velocity.
Identifying the Primary Transport Process
Wind transports soil in three primary ways:
- Suspension: Very fine particles (typically < 0.1 mm) are lifted and carried long distances by the wind, sometimes remaining airborne for extended periods.
- Saltation: Medium-sized particles (typically 0.1 to 0.5 mm) are lifted briefly by the wind, bounce off the surface, and roll or skip along the ground. This process dislodges other particles.
- Surface Creep: Larger particles (typically > 0.5 mm) are too heavy to be lifted but are pushed or rolled along the ground surface by the impact of other particles or by the wind's force.
Maximum Soil Movement via Saltation
While suspension moves fine particles over large distances and surface creep moves larger debris, the saltation process is responsible for transporting the largest portion of soil by volume and mass in most wind erosion scenarios. The bouncing and rolling action characteristic of saltation is highly effective at moving significant amounts of soil material across the landscape.
Therefore, the maximum portion of soil is transported by the process of saltation.
Important Questions from Wind Erosion
- A $16 \text{ m}$ high wind break is constructed to protect soil from wind erosion due to wind velocity of $18$ $\text{m s}^{-1}$ at $15 \text{ m}$ height. The minimum wind velocity at $15 \text{ m}$ height capable of moving the soil fraction is $8 \text{ m s}^{-1}$. The angle of deviation of prevailing wind direction from the perpendicular to the wind break is $30^\circ$. The distance of full protection from the wind break in $\text{m}$ is
A windbreak, 15 m in height and 200 m in length, is established to protect the land from wind erosion in an arid area. The minimum wind velocity at the height of 15 m above the ground required to move the most erodible soil fraction is $9.6\ m\cdot s^{-1}$. If 5-year return period wind velocity at 15 m height is $16\ m\cdot s^{-1}$ and the wind direction deviates $20^\circ$ from the line perpendicular to the windbreak, the area protected by the windbreak in ha is ________________.
[round off to 2 decimal places]- In wind erosion process, the rate of soil movement (S) depends on wind speed (v), threshold limit of wind speed required to move the soil ($v_m$) and average soil particle size (d). This interrelationship is expressed as
- To protect a wheat field from wind erosion, windbreaks of $2.7$ m height are provided. The actual wind velocity at $15$ m height perpendicular to the wind barrier is $9$ m.s$^{-1}$ and the minimum wind velocity at $15$ m height required to move the most erodible soil fraction is $9.6$ m.s$^{-1}$. The distance of full protection from this windbreak is __________ m. (Rounded off to 2 decimal places)
- In wind erosion, the amount of soil transported varies
