Soil wind erosion is a serious problem in arid and semiarid regions of the world due to the removal of nutrients and finer soil particles from the soil surface, the reduction of soil productivity, suppression of crop growth by sandblasting seedlings, and impacts on air quality and visibility due to dust emission. Windblown dust emitted from the topsoil can travel hundreds of kilometers downwind before being deposited back to the surface. Soil wind erosion is the process by which topsoil is detached from the land surface and transported by wind, and the process is thus determined by the combination of soil and vegetation characteristics, and atmospheric conditions. Soil properties such as surface moisture content, and aggregate and pore size influence the PMcoarse (particulate matter between 2.5 to 10 mm in diameter) available for detachment by the wind. Vegetation influences wind erosion by reducing wind speed and friction velocity at the soil surface and surface abrasion by saltating soil grains. In contrast, wind generates shear at the soil surface which is necessary to initiate movement of an aggregate or particle resting on the soil surface.
The Research Topic aims to reveal how soil, vegetation, and weather factors impact soil wind erosion in arid and semiarid environments of the world. Soil wind erosion may involve various environmental factors such as soil texture, vegetation structure and leaf area index, wind speed and direction, and air temperature. Submissions can include field observations, wind tunnel experiments, and modeling. The collection also seeks to promote relevant soil wind erosion studies such as dust activity, soil hydrology, and residue decomposition. As a result, effective wind erosion control practices such as land management strategies could be applied to minimize wind erosion in arid and semiarid regions.
The scope of the collection includes but is not limited to the following topics:
• Fundamentals of soil wind erosion processes, including soil and dust entrainment, and the transport and deposition of sediment;
• Measurement and modeling of soil structure, soil aggregates, soil crust, and soil clod associated with wind erosion;
• Field observations, wind tunnel testing and laboratory measurements, remote sensing, and modeling of soil wind erosion processes;
• The effects of changing climate on the extent of soil erosion and dust activity, including the effects of temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, and wind on dust activity; and
• Practical applications including wind erosion control practices and land management, e.g., conservation tillage, crop rotation, and cropping systems.
Soil wind erosion is a serious problem in arid and semiarid regions of the world due to the removal of nutrients and finer soil particles from the soil surface, the reduction of soil productivity, suppression of crop growth by sandblasting seedlings, and impacts on air quality and visibility due to dust emission. Windblown dust emitted from the topsoil can travel hundreds of kilometers downwind before being deposited back to the surface. Soil wind erosion is the process by which topsoil is detached from the land surface and transported by wind, and the process is thus determined by the combination of soil and vegetation characteristics, and atmospheric conditions. Soil properties such as surface moisture content, and aggregate and pore size influence the PMcoarse (particulate matter between 2.5 to 10 mm in diameter) available for detachment by the wind. Vegetation influences wind erosion by reducing wind speed and friction velocity at the soil surface and surface abrasion by saltating soil grains. In contrast, wind generates shear at the soil surface which is necessary to initiate movement of an aggregate or particle resting on the soil surface.
The Research Topic aims to reveal how soil, vegetation, and weather factors impact soil wind erosion in arid and semiarid environments of the world. Soil wind erosion may involve various environmental factors such as soil texture, vegetation structure and leaf area index, wind speed and direction, and air temperature. Submissions can include field observations, wind tunnel experiments, and modeling. The collection also seeks to promote relevant soil wind erosion studies such as dust activity, soil hydrology, and residue decomposition. As a result, effective wind erosion control practices such as land management strategies could be applied to minimize wind erosion in arid and semiarid regions.
The scope of the collection includes but is not limited to the following topics:
• Fundamentals of soil wind erosion processes, including soil and dust entrainment, and the transport and deposition of sediment;
• Measurement and modeling of soil structure, soil aggregates, soil crust, and soil clod associated with wind erosion;
• Field observations, wind tunnel testing and laboratory measurements, remote sensing, and modeling of soil wind erosion processes;
• The effects of changing climate on the extent of soil erosion and dust activity, including the effects of temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, and wind on dust activity; and
• Practical applications including wind erosion control practices and land management, e.g., conservation tillage, crop rotation, and cropping systems.
