Measurement and prediction of soil erosion in dry field using portable wind erosion tunnel

•A short-term wind erosion prediction model was proposed.•The methodology provides easy and quick in situ application for erosion prediction.•The model showed good potential of coupling with a CFD simulation technique.•The model with CFD will be used to evaluate wind erosion prevention measures.

The purpose of this study was to develop a wind erosion prediction model by in situ measurement using portable wind erosion tunnel. The model has a modified form of the wind erosion equation (WEQ) to represent short-term wind erosion with fast and simple measurable factors. To collect the data under controlled wind conditions but on in situ soils, a portable wind erosion tunnel was designed and utilised during field experiments. Notwithstanding measurements might include any possible error, the multiple linear regression analysis of repetitive experimental data derived the wind erosion prediction model, which showed a good agreement with the measured data with R2 = 0.61. The short-term wind erosion predicted by the model was made available to CFD simulation by coupling the erosion mechanism with sophisticated wind environment analysis over complex terrain. The land cover data was linked to the CFD simulation by mapping the virtual porosity and using user-defined functions. The CFD simulation coupled with the regression model produced useful results concerning spatial distributions of soil erodibility, erodible area and soil erosion over complex terrain showing good potential of coupling the experimental model with CFD simulation technique. It is also a promising method for evaluation of various wind erosion prevention measures as well as for effective planning and decision-making for wind erosion control.