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Title: AN IMPROVED WIND SIMULATOR FOR WIND EROSION PREDICTION

Author
item Van Donk, Simon
item Wagner, Larry
item Skidmore, Edward
item Tatarko, John

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2003
Publication Date: 8/1/2003
Citation: Van Donk, S.J., Wagner, L.E., Skidmore, E.L., Tatarko, J. An improved wind simulator for wind erosion prediction. 2003. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Paper No. 03-2069.

Interpretive Summary: Presentation (talk) on 28 July 2003 at the Annaul International meeting of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE); Las Vegas, Nevada.

Technical Abstract: WEPS is a process-based computer model for the simulation of wind blown sediment. It has been designated to replace the more empirical Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) for use by the NRCS in the USA. Windgen is a wind generator specifically developed for use with WEPS. The objectives of this study are to ensure that Windgen accurately simulates wind speed and direction and to update the Windgen database with more recent, quality reviewed, data from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). Historical hourly wind data will be converted to probability data (histograms), which are then fitted to Weibull distribution curves. Verifying the curve fitting will be done by statistically comparing the fitted Weibull curves with the histograms from which they were generated. NCDC data records from 12 baseline locations will be used. If the curve fitting procedure is not robust enough, alternative fitting procedures will be considered. For example, if the fit is not satisfactory for high wind speeds, greater weight may be assigned to them. Next, Windgen will be verified to ensure that it produces statistically accurate representations of the Weibull curves. It will be used to generate 30 years of wind data for the 12 baseline locations. Comparisons will be made between Weibull curves and histograms of the generated data. After testing and optimizing Windgen, the current Windgen database will be updated with the recent, quality reviewed, NCDC wind data.