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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #351127
Title: Erodibility of and dust emissions from bare soil surfaces in the North American Southwest.

Author
item Van Pelt, Robert - Scott
item Tatarko, John
item CHANG, CHUNPING - Hebei University
item EIBENDINGLE, LYASU - University Of Texas - El Paso
item GILL, THOMAS - University Of Texas - El Paso

Submitted to: International Conference on Wind Erosion and Aeolian Processes
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2018
Publication Date: 6/26/2018
Citation: Van Pelt, R.S., Tatarko, J., Chang, C., Eibendingle, L., Gill, T. 2018. Erodibility of and dust emissions from bare soil surfaces in the North American Southwest.. International Conference on Wind Erosion and Aeolian Processes. Presentation.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Native plant communities throughout the Southwestern United States are subject to increased abiotic stress due to climate change. As native grass cover is replaced by shrubs, more bare soil surface is susceptible to erosion by wind. The dust record for the last 20 years indicates that wind erosion and resultant fugitive dust emissions are increasing over broad areas of the Southwest. We used a Portable In-Situ Wind Erosion Laboratory (PI-SWERL) and a simple pneumatic gun method to assess and compare the erodibility and dust emissions from multiple undisturbed and disturbed soil surfaces in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Results of this study will be presented along with recommendations for improved management of these changing ecosystems.