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Variations in dust-related PM10 emission from an arid land due to surface composition and topsoil disturbance

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Abstract

Aeolian (wind) erosion is most common in arid regions. The resulted emission of PM10 (particulate matter that is smaller than 10 μm in diameter) from the soil has many environmental and socioeconomic consequences such as soil degradation and air pollution. Topsoil resistance to aeolian transport highly depends on the surface composition. The study aim was to examine variations in PM10 fluxes in a desert-dust source due to surface composition and topsoil disturbance. Aeolian field experiments using a boundary layer wind tunnel alongside soil composition analysis were integrated in this study. The results show variations in PM10 fluxes (ranging from 9.5 to 524.6 mg m−2 min−1) in the studied area. Higher wind velocity increased significantly the PM10 fluxes in all surface compositions. A short-term natural disturbance caused changes in the aggregate soil distribution (ASD) and increased significantly PM10 emissions. Considering that PM10 contains clays, organic matter, and absorbed elements, the recorded PM10 fluxes are indicative of the potential soil loss and degradation by wind erosion in such resource-limited ecosystems. The findings have implications in modeling dust emission from a source area with complex surfaces.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by grants from the Israel Science Foundation (1100/11) and the Nuclear Research Center-Negev Israel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva, Israel

    Avraham Edri, Smadar Tanner, Nitzan Swet & Itzhak Katra

  2. Environmental Research Unit, Nuclear Research Center-Negev, Be’er-Sheva, Israel

    Avraham Dody

Authors
  1. Avraham Edri
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  2. Avraham Dody
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  3. Smadar Tanner
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  4. Nitzan Swet
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  5. Itzhak Katra
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Correspondence to Itzhak Katra.

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Edri, A., Dody, A., Tanner, S. et al. Variations in dust-related PM10 emission from an arid land due to surface composition and topsoil disturbance. Arab J Geosci 9, 607 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2651-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2651-z

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