Wind Erosion - Causes and Effects

• Published in: Proenvironment Vol. 12; no. 38
• Main Authors: Voevod, Mihai, Dîrja, Marcel, Moldovan, Maria Olivia, Arion, Iulia Diana, Ancuţa, Radu Ţenter, Călin Gheorghe Topan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cluj-Napoca Bioflux SRL 01.01.2019
• ISSN: 1844-6698; 2066-1363

Wind erosion is the detachment, movement and abrasion of soil by wind. It begins when the pressure of the wind against the surface soil grains overcomes the force of gravity on the grains. Wind moves soil grains along the surface of the ground in a series of jumps known as saltation. Wind erosion occurs in many arid, semiarid and agriculturally used areas around the world, and is influenced by geological and climatic factors, as well as human activities. Researchers pointed out that annual average soil losses up to 40 t ha-1 are possible without any visible sign of erosion. Erosion and deposition processes both take place on large areas and are therefore difficult to identify. In contrast to water erosion, where the eroded material follows determined paths, wind-eroded material is widely dispersed over the landscape. Furthermore, the direction of transport is subject to changes and in some cases completely the opposite, and so are the areas of erosion and deposition.