Wind erosion events

Wind (or aeolian) erosion occurs when wind exerts sufficient force upon the soil surface to entrain (i.e. move) soil particles and/or soil aggregates. Once entrained, the eroded soil material becomes a sediment, and is transported a certain distance, then deposited. The size of the particle and wind strength determines the distance the particle will travel before it is deposited. Larger sand grains either roll along the ground (i.e. creep) or hop across the surface, as saltation sediments.

The fine soil fraction, less than 100µm (or 0.1mm), is sufficiently small to be held aloft and carried by the winds over long distances as dust. The atmospheric characteristics of each dust event help characterise the event. Meteorological measurements identify what weather systems produced the event, the possible extent and the probable direction in which the dust will travel. Regular meteorological observations build up a picture of the controlling forces at a local scale.
The Bureau of Meteorology records three different types of wind erosion events: dust storms, dust haze and local blowing dust.

Wind erosion fieldwork is interrupted by a dust storm.