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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 93, NO. D10, PAGES 12,645–12,662, 1988

Threshold friction velocities for dust production for agricultural soils

Dale A. Gillette

Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change, Air Resources Laboratories, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado


Abstract

Threshold velocities for agricultural soils were measured for a wide variety of conditions in order to quantify a model of dust emissions for the United States. These measurements supplement threshold velocities for arid and semiarid soils (Gillette, et al., 1980, Gillette, et al., 1982). The model will be used in precipitation acid/base balance studies. The soils were organized according to surface texture, organic matter content, and calcium carbonate composition. They were further organized by the physical surface states: smooth-loose, cloddy, and crusted. Sandy soils were found to have the lowest threshold velocities and were the least affected by wetting (precipitation). Loamy soils were found to have the highest threshold velocities and were the most affected by precipitation wetting.

Index Terms: 0305 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Aerosols and particles; 0365 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Troposphere—composition and chemistry; 3379 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Turbulence.

Citation: Gillette, D. A. (1988), Threshold friction velocities for dust production for agricultural soils, J. Geophys. Res., 93(D10), 12,645–12,662.