Dust Emission Processes

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Publication Title

Treatise on Geomorphology

Keywords

Aerodynamic entrainment, Aggregate disintegration, Dust, Dust flux, Eolian abrasion, Landform, Saltation bombardment, Soil crust, Soil moisture, Surface roughness, Threshold friction velocity

Abstract

Dust emission is governed by a combination of surface soil characteristics and processes that liberate dust from the soil. Researchers continue to improve upon estimates of soil crusting, moisture, and surface roughness that influence the threshold friction velocity required for particle entrainment. Many of these characteristics vary in space and time, making it difficult to characterize dust emissions over landscape, regional, or global scales. Saltation bombardment and aggregate disintegration play dominant roles in dust production and are emphasized in dust models. Recent research has reconsidered the roles of aerodynamic entrainment and eolian abrasion in dust emissions. While these processes tend to emit lower concentrations of dust, they do so over large spatial scales and thus may be important in total global dust emissions. Researchers are using field data to evaluate new dust emission schemes with the intent of improving emission estimates.

First Page

235

Last Page

258

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-12-818234-5.00015-8

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS