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Influence of Wind Direction on the Size Distribution of Aeolian Microparticles

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Abstract

In this paper, microparticle size distributions due to the wind direction - frontal and tangential in respect to the prevailing orientation of the dune crests are analyzed using field measurement data obtained during the 2010–2020 summer seasons in the arid conditions of the Near Caspian Lowland (Kalmykia, Russia). A smaller number of coarse-fraction microparticles (2–5 μm) and a larger number of fine-fraction microparticles (0.2–2 μm) are observed for the frontal wind direction in comparison with data for the tangential direction under similar conditions. The concentration of microparticles decreases for the frontal wind direction and increases for the tangential wind direction with the increase in friction dynamic velocity. Dust aerosol generation is associated with the movement of large particles near the surface by means of saltation or rolling (movement near the surface). The sizes of the generated microparticles are related to the momentum transferred to the particles in the layer. Concentrations of the fine fraction microparticles are associated with the presence of secondary aeolian structures on the surface of the windward slope and the relative change in the slope angle of inclination under the wind of different directions. This fraction generation due to shaking is more likely to occur when large particles move near the surface. The coarse-fraction concentrations are determined by the chipping processes that occur when a saltating particle blown from the top of the dune falls to the surface. When the wind direction is tangential and large irregularly shaped particles from the accumulation zone on the leeward slope are involved, the air circulation over the leeward slope weakens and the chipping processes intensify. The analytical derivation of the microparticle size distribution function and the comparison with field measurement data makes it possible to assess these effects in relation to the variation of angles of the aeolian-structure surface inclination and of particle velocities, which occur when the wind veers.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to V.A. Lebedev, Yu.A. Obvintsev, A.A. Khapaev, and B.A. Khartskhaev (Komsomolsky, Kalmykia) for their assistance in organizing and carrying out the field measurements.

Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 20-17-00214.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    E. A. Malinovskaya, O. G. Chkhetiani & L. O. Maksimenkov

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  1. E. A. Malinovskaya
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  2. O. G. Chkhetiani
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  3. L. O. Maksimenkov
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Correspondence to E. A. Malinovskaya.

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Translated by N. Semenova

The paper is based on the oral presentation at the All-Russian Conference “Turbulence, Atmospheric Dynamics, and Climate” dedicated to the memory of Academician A.M. Obukhov (Moscow, November 10–12, 2020).

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Malinovskaya, E.A., Chkhetiani, O.G. & Maksimenkov, L.O. Influence of Wind Direction on the Size Distribution of Aeolian Microparticles. Izv. Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 57, 472–485 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821050108

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