Erosion profiles due to particles entrained by wind: Application of an eolian sediment-transport model

Research Article| October 01, 1986 Erosion profiles due to particles entrained by wind: Application of an eolian sediment-transport model ROBERT S. ANDERSON ROBERT S. ANDERSON 1Quaternary Research Center and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information ROBERT S. ANDERSON 1Quaternary Research Center and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1986) 97 (10): 1270–1278. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)972.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation ROBERT S. ANDERSON; Erosion profiles due to particles entrained by wind: Application of an eolian sediment-transport model. GSA Bulletin 1986;; 97 (10): 1270–1278. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)972.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Erosion by impacts of particles entrained in the wind scales with the kinetic energy of impacting grains. A recent model of eolian sediment transport permits calculation of expected erosion patterns in objects of simple geometry. The modeling of vertical erosion profiles, in turn, provides an exacting test of the transport model.Realistic distributions of liftoff velocities for saltating grains give rise to kinetic-energy–flux profiles characterized by a strong maximum as much as .1–.4 m above the bed during strong winds. Kinetic-energy flux due to suspended grains also peaks above the bed; the height and strength of the maxima depend very strongly on the grain-size distribution. As grain size diminishes, increased particle deflection by the air flow around an obstacle reduces delivery of kinetic energy to the surface. For both saltating and suspended grains, kinetic-energy flux scales with the fifth power of the wind shear velocity. Erosion profiles in man-made obstacles are well modeled with only slight modification of the saltation model to account for the relatively high elasticity of actual deflationary surfaces, lending considerable support for the model.The modeling also elucidates several aspects of ventifaction. As small ventifacts (.1–.2 m in diameter) and the lower portions of larger ones are predominantly eroded by saltating grains, upwind surface irregularities are quickly damped, leading to facets that dip upwind and sharply truncate lee surfaces. Sandblasting by suspended grains dominates along the upper portions of large ventifacts, where grain paths are partially deflected by the obstacle, and may lead to radially symmetrical flutes and grooves. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.