Wind-induced dust generation and transport mechanics on a bare agricultural field

Strong atmospheric winds may cause wind erosion and dust emissions on bare, dry, erodible fields. Since these dust emissions may exceed particulate matter limits established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, information on dust generation and transport mechanics is needed to determine the particulate hazard of dust sources. Measurements of climatic variables and airborne sediment mass and concentration were made during three strong wind events on a bare, fine sandy loam field in west Texas. This study clearly shows that dust flux estimates were very sensitive to dust concentration measurement height. PM10 flux values estimated between heights of 2 and 5 m were 2–5 times those estimated between heights of 5 and 10 m. Tower placement in relation to the upwind unerodible boundary produced significant differences in dust flux that varied with storm intensity. During the most intense storm event, the PM10 flux between heights of 2 and 5 m measured at the tower 200 m from the unerodible boundary was almost 2.5 times as that measured at the tower 100 m from the unerodible boundary. Vertical PM10 dust flux was closely related with horizontal sediment flux only when the winds came from the same direction during the entire duration of horizontal sediment flux measurements.