An experimental study on the susceptibility of crusted surfaces to wind erosion: A comparison of the strength properties of biotic and salt crusts

Quantifying dust emissions from desert landforms, eastern Mojave Desert, USA

“…Soluble salts (NaCl and KCl) significantly increase the threshold friction velocity of soils via cementing of soil particles (Nickling and Ecclestone, 1981;Langston and McKenna Neuman, 2005); however, sulfate salts that produce a loose, fluffy mineral structure have been witnessed to be directly deflated by the wind (Gillette et al, 1980;Reynolds et al, 2007).…”

Characteristics of the Gobi desert and their significance for dust emissions in the Ala Shan Plateau (Central Asia): An experimental study

“…Our field investigations of the Gobi surfaces revealed the presence of high clay contents despite the relatively high coverage by gravel, and the high clay contents would increase the resistance to abrasion by saltating grains and to disturbance by other factors (e.g., Houser and Nickling, 2001;Rice and McEwan, 2001). Clay strata progressively weaken as a result of aeolian abrasion processes (Langston and McKenna Neuman, 2005), but those that develop in Gobi surfaces may be protected to some extent by the gravel cover and other factors. In addition, Xuan et al (2004) showed that the PM 50 emissions (the fraction <50 mm in diameter) in the Ala Shan Plateau and southern Mongolia were around 0.1 t ha À1 yr À1 (10 g m À2 yr À1 ).…”

Wind erosion prevention characteristics and key influencing factors of bryophytic soil crusts

“…Previous research has shown that BSCs can reduce erosion modulus, sand-transport rate, and wind erosion by separating the soil from the airflow (Zhang et al 2006;Langston and Neuman 2005). Zhang et al (2006) determined without the protection of the BSC layer, the wind erosion rates on bare sand were 46, 21, and 17 times the erosion rates on a 90 % crust cover at velocities of 18, 22, and 25 m s −1 , respectively.…”

“…BSCs are important ecosystem components in arid and semi-arid areas (Belnap 2003;Belnap and Lange 2001;Eldridge and Greene 1994), especially when utilized for aeolian erosion control (Hupy 2004;Guo et al 2008). BSCs have two binding mechanisms: (1) extracellular excretions, which act as cementing agents and (2) filamentous growths that blanket and entangle loose surface particles (Langston and Neuman 2005). Through a wind tunnel experiment, Eldridge and Leys (2003) noted that after moderate disturbance and simulated wind erosion, 90 % of surface aggregates on the loamy soil and 76 % of surface aggregates on the sandy soil were dominated by biological elements (cryptogams).…”