Sediment transport by wind: Toward a general model

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1986 Sediment transport by wind: Toward a general 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 BERNARD HALLET BERNARD HALLET 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 BERNARD HALLET 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 (5): 523–535. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97<523:STBWTA>2.0.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, BERNARD HALLET; Sediment transport by wind: Toward a general model. GSA Bulletin 1986;; 97 (5): 523–535. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97<523:STBWTA>2.0.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 A general model of eolian sediment transport by both saltation and suspension is developed. Saltation is analyzed through calculations of single trajectories, given initial conditions of liftoff speed, angle, and spin. Profiles of particle concentration and mass flux, generated by assuming that all trajectories are identical, display distinct maxima at the top of the trajectory. By incorporating the realistic distribution of trajectories that arises from the stochastic nature of grain impacts with a granular bed, the model yields monotonic decreases in particle concentration and mass flux with height, in accordance with published empirical data.The analysis of suspension, as the balance between downward advective flux as a result of the settling of grains and their upward diffusive flux as a result of turbulence, results in concentration profiles that fall off as power laws with height, also in accordance with empirical data. A relation for reference-level concentrations is presented for both blowing-snow and dust profiles.The solutions for saltation and suspension are combined to yield mass-flux profiles for the entire range of grain sizes in the bed. The saltation layer emerges naturally as that region where the total flux of saltating grains exceeds that of suspended grains. The model points clearly to the need for further research on the stochastic grain-bed interactions, which control both the probability distribution of liftoff velocities in saltation and the production of fine particles in suspension. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. 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.