The National Wind Erosion Research Network: Building a standardized long-term data resource for aeolian research, modeling and land management

Authors: WEBB, NICHOLAS - New Mexico State University; Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff; Van Zee, Justin; Courtright, Ericha; HUGENHOLTZ, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Calgary; Zobeck, Teddy; OKIN, GREGORY - University Of California; BARCHYN, THOMAS - University Of Calgary; BILLINGS, BENJAMIN - Bureau Of Land Management; BOYD, ROBERT - Bureau Of Land Management; CLINGAN, SCOTT - New Mexico State University; COOPER, BRAD - New Mexico State University; DUNIWAY, MICHAEL - Us Geological Survey (USGS); Derner, Justin; Fox, Jr, Fred; Havstad, Kris; Heilman, Philip - Phil; Laplante, Valerie; LUDWIG, NOEL - Bureau Of Land Management; METZ, LORETTA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA); Nearing, Mark; NORFLEET, M. LEE - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA); Pierson Jr, Frederick; Sanderson, Matt; Sharratt, Brenton; Steiner, Jean; Tatarko, John; TEDELA, NEGUSSIE - Bureau Of Land Management; Toledo, David; UNNASCH, ROBERT - Nature Conservancy; Van Pelt, Robert - Scott; Wagner, Larry

Submitted to: Aeolian Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2016
Publication Date: 5/31/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62569
Citation: Webb, N.P., Herrick, J.E., Van Zee, J.W., Courtright, E.M., Hugenholtz, C.H., Zobeck, T.M., Okin, G., Barchyn, T.E., Billings, B.J., Boyd, R., Clingan, S., Cooper, B., Duniway, M., Derner, J.D., Fox, F.A., Havstad, K.M., Heilman, P., Laplante, V.K., Ludwig, N., Metz, L.J., Nearing, M.A., Norfleet, M., Pierson Jr, F.B., Sanderson, M.A., Sharratt, B.S., Steiner, J.L., Tatarko, J., Tedela, N., Toledo, D.N., Unnasch, R., Van Pelt, R.S., Wagner, L.E. 2016. The National Wind Erosion Research Network: Building a standardized long-term data resource for aeolian research, modeling and land management. Aeolian Research. 22:23-36.

Interpretive Summary: The USDA Agricultural Research Service, in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and DOI Bureau of Land Management, is establishing a National Wind Erosion Research Network in the United States. The goal of the Network is to provide long-term and standardized measurements of wind erosion and its controlling factors to address big challenges in understanding and managing wind erosion and dust. The Network includes intensively instrumented field sites across the rangelands, croplands and deserts of the western United States. The Network follows a standard methods protocol, which specifies instrumentation and data collection and storage methods that are followed at all sites. The Network website (http://winderosionnetwork.org) provides information about the Network, site descriptions, the standard methods protocols, and data portals that enable collaborators and the public to access network data. The National Wind Erosion Research Network is an open network and encourages data sharing and collaboration among the aeolian research community and resource management agencies.

Technical Abstract: The National Wind Erosion Research Network was established in 2014 as a collaborative effort led by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, to address the need for a long-term research program to meet critical challenges in wind erosion research and management in the United States. The Network has three aims: 1) provide data to support understanding of basic aeolian processes across land use types, land cover types, and management practices, 2) support development and application of models to assess wind erosion and dust emission and their impacts on human and environmental systems, and 3) encourage collaboration among the aeolian research community and resource managers for the transfer of wind erosion technologies. The Network currently consists of thirteen intensively instrumented sites providing measurements of aeolian sediment transport rates, meteorological conditions, and soil and vegetation properties which influence wind erosion. Network sites are located across rangelands, croplands, and deserts of the western US. In support of Network activities, http://winderosionnetwork.org was developed as a portal for information about the Network, providing site descriptions, measurement protocols, and data visualization tools to facilitate collaboration with scientists and managers interested in the Network and accessing Network products. The Network provides a mechanism for engaging national and international partners in a wind erosion research program that addresses the need for improved understanding and prediction of aeolian processes across complex and diverse land use types and management practices.