Physics and Modelling of Wind Erosion

This book provides a comprehensive summary of the recent developments in wind-erosion research and a clear outline of its future directions. The physics of wind-erosion, from particle entrainment to transport and deposition, is described with rigor from the viewpoints of fluid dynamics and soil physics. The techniques for quantitative wind-erosion prediction through computational modelling constitutes a unique feature of this book in contrast to others published in the same field. For the first time, wind-erosion has been considered systematically as a multidisciplinary subject. The author has advocated the development of integrated wind-erosion modelling systems which couple dynamic models for the atmosphere and land surface with spatially distributed data for land-surface conditions. The successful applications of such a system have demonstrated its usefulness in wind-erosion assessment and prediction on regional to continental scales. This book offers a valuable reference point for researchers and postgraduate students engaged in wind-erosion related studies, ranging from global climate change to atmospheric aerosols, dust storms, air quality, and land conservation.