Home > Geography, Earth Sciences > Vol 6 No 1 June 2018 Abstract 3
Aeolian Erosion Processes in Humid Subtropical Ultisols in Southeastern United States Jamie L. Kincheloe, Dr. Arpita Nandi, Dr. Ingrid Luffman

Abstract
Many aeolian erosion studies have been performed in arid and semi-arid environments, while few have been performed in humid subtropical environments. Since the primary erosional factor in humid environments is precipitation, aeolian erosion is often not accounted for. This study focuses on the role of wind and wind-driven rain erosion in humid subtropical environments on an east Tennessee hill slope, USA. Three years of wind data were aggregated to weekly soil erosion measurement periods using five wind and precipitation parameters: average wind speed, peak gust, average wind direction, high wind direction, and maximum precipitation intensity. Predictive statistical regression models were generated for aeolian erosion in gully interfluves and sidewalls. Principal Components Analysis was used to develop two independent factors for wind speed and direction. Ordinary Least Square regression models for erosion on interfluves and sidewalls using the two factors and wind-driven precipitation interaction variables explained 5.9% and 15%, respectively, of variability in erosion data. A comparison of erosion on lee and stoss sidewalls indicated no significant differences in the three-year lumped dataset, but differences at the weekly time scale were significant during winter months, likely related to freeze thaw events.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jges.v6n1a3