Evaporative sodium salt crust development and its wind tunnel derived transport dynamics under variable climatic conditions

Nield, Joanna M.; Neuman, Cheryl McKenna; O’Brien, Patrick; Bryant, Robert G.; Wiggs, Giles F.S.

doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2016.09.003

Cited by 34 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…This phenomenon becomes more acute with lower moisture content of saline sand. Although this problem was previously reported in the research literature, no good solution has been found (Chepil, 1956;Nickling, 1978;Nickling and Ecclestone, 1981;Argaman et al, 2006;Nield et al, 2016). Even though we measured the moisture content of 1-mm depth of saline sand on the surface, which was approximately the total thickness of 5 layers of sand particles (200.00 μm for each layer), the error was still inevitable because surface moisture of wet sand is the key factor in controlling the initiation of particle motion.…”

Section: Threshold Shear Velocity and Crust Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Surfaces that are wet, rough, aggregated, crusted and partially covered with crop residue generally have a higher threshold shear velocity than surfaces that are dry, smooth, single-grained, non-crusted and devoid of vegetation (Ravi et al, 2006;Davidson-Arnott et al, 2008;Ishizuka et al, 2008;Sharratt and Vaddella, 2014;Raffaele et al, 2018). Natural surface crust can significantly reduce dust emission and soil erosion (Chepil, 1958;Zobeck, 1991;Zhang et al, 2008;Yan et al, 2015;Nield et al, 2016). In nature, an exposed soil surface usually forms a crust after cycles of saturation and insolation (Chen et al, 1980;Gomes et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Widely dispersed beach sand can be affected by sea salt, resulting in the increase of its cohesion (Pye, 1980). However, the research about the effects of soluble salts on erosion and deflation is limited (Nickling and Ecclestone, 1981;Nickling, 1984;Wang et al, 2013;Nield et al, 2016). Detailed wind tunnel experiments have shown that threshold shear velocity is very sensitive to salt content, and that even a low salt concentration can significantly increase its value.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the playa basin, dust emission from salt crusted surfaces can also occur without saltation. Disturbance or destruction of the salt crust can reduce the wind speed threshold of dust emission and increase the release of dust (Nield et al, 2016). In Qaidam Basin, saline sediment influences dune evolution and alters sand dune morphology (Rubin and Hesp, 2009;Wolfe and Hugenholtz, 2009;Rubin and Rubin, 2013;Dong et al, 2017;Xiao et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Dong

Shuyan

et al. 2019

J. Arid Land

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Determination of the threshold shear velocity is essential for predicting sand transport, dust release and desertification. In this study, a wind tunnel experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand. Saline sand samples (mean particle size of 164.50-186.08 μm and the total silt, clay and salt content of 0.80%-8.25%) were collected from three saline sand dunes (one barchan dune and two linear dunes) in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China. Original saline sand samples were placed in two experimental trays for wet and dry processing to simulate deliquescence and desiccation, respectively. Surface moisture content ranging from 0.30% to 1.90% was generated by the steam method so that the saline sand can absorb water in a saturated water vapor environment. The motion of sand particles was determined by the observers with a solid laser. The laser sheet (0.80 cm thick), which was emitted by the solid laser, horizontally covered the sand surface and was bound to the sand. Results show that the cohesion of saline sand results from a combination of salt and water. The threshold shear velocity increases exponentially with the increase in crust thickness for the linear sand dunes. There is a positive linear correlation between the original moisture content and relative threshold shear velocity. The threshold shear velocity of dewatered sand is greater than that of wet sand with the same original moisture content. Our results will provide valuable information about the sand transport of highly saline soil in the desert.

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Section: Threshold Shear Velocity and Crust Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Dong

Shuyan

et al. 2019

J. Arid Land

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show abstract

“…High potential for dust emission exists from the salt-crusted surfaces typical of wet playas, and low potential exists from hard, compact surfaces that lack salt crusts (Reynolds et al, 2007). Furthermore, the types of salts that compose surface crusts influence emissivity (Nield et al, 2016). As mentioned in section 5.3, sulfate salts tend to be more emissive than chloride-carbonate salts, and consequently dust emitted from the AM-FLP area is dominated by sulfate compositions.…”

Section: Dust Emission and Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controls on the chemical composition of saline surface crusts and emitted dust from a wet playa in the Mojave Desert (USA)

Goldstein

Breit

Reynolds

2017

Journal of Arid Environments

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Saline-surface crusts and their compositions at ephemeral, dry, and drying lakes are important products of arid-land processes. Detailed understanding is lacking, however, about interactions among locally variable hydrogeologic conditions, compositional control of groundwater on vadose zone and surface salts, and dust composition. Chemical and physical data from groundwater, sediments, and salts reveal compositional controls on saline-surface crusts across a wet playa, Mojave Desert, with bearing on similar settings elsewhere. The compositions of chemically and isotopically distinctive shallow (<3 m) water masses are recorded in the composition of associated salts. In areas with deeper and more saline groundwater, however, not all ions are transported through the vadose zone. Retention of arsenic and other elements in the vadose zone diminishes the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in surface salts, but creates a reservoir of these elements that may be brought to the surface during wetter conditions or by human disturbance. Selective wind-erosion loss of sulfate salts was identified by the compositional contrast between surface salt crusts and underlying groundwater. At the sub-basin scale, compositional links exist among groundwater, salt crusts, and dust from wet playas. Across the study basin, however, lateral variations in groundwater and solid-salt compositions are produced by hydrogeologic heterogeneity.

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Impact of soil texture and salt type on salt precipitation and evaporation under different hydraulic conditions

Guo

Wang

2022

Hydrological Processes

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Salt precipitation and evaporation in porous media is an important research topic. However, several aspects remain controversial; notably, whether efflorescence inhibits evaporation in wet soil, the influence of soil texture on salt crust formation and the effect of sulphate precipitation on evaporation under changing hydraulic conditions. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of salt type (NaCl and Na2SO4) and soil texture (sandy soil, sandy loam and silt loam) on salt precipitation and evaporation under different hydraulic conditions (with and without fixed groundwater). Our results demonstrated that a NaCl salt crust strongly inhibited evaporation, even from wet soil (with groundwater), owing to its denser salt structure, which inhibited fluid flow. Moreover, the salt crust pattern differed based on soil texture. Relatively thin, flat and uniform salt crusts were developed in finer soils (silt loam), with greater evaporation resistance, whereas thick and rough salt crusts were developed in coarser soil (sandy soil), with less evaporation resistance. Na2SO4 was precipitated as subflorescence in drying soil, whereas wet soils exhibited a mixed salt precipitation pattern including both efflorescence and subflorescence. Notably, evaporation was primarily inhibited by efflorescence, rather than subflorescence. Our research provides novel insights into the dynamics of salt precipitation and evaporation in natural soils.

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Evaporative sodium salt crust development and its wind tunnel derived transport dynamics under variable climatic conditions

Cited by 34 publications

References 53 publications

Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Influence of salinity and moisture on the threshold shear velocity of saline sand in the Qarhan Desert, Qaidam Basin of China: A wind tunnel experiment

Controls on the chemical composition of saline surface crusts and emitted dust from a wet playa in the Mojave Desert (USA)

Impact of soil texture and salt type on salt precipitation and evaporation under different hydraulic conditions

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