Predicting wind erosion and windblown dust emissions at the regional scale to guide strategic conservation targeting

Excerpt

Soil wind erosion and windblown dust have long been a major concern within the Columbia Plateau of the Pacific Northwest. Wind removes the fertile surface soil and can result in a decline in soil quality, crop damage, poor visibility, and degraded air quality (see figure 1).

Dryland agriculture is practiced on about 8.2 million acres in the inland Pacific Northwest; half of this acreage is in fallow on an annual basis. Land in summer fallow is a major source of dust and PM10 (particulate matter = 10 μ in diameter that is regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency) in this region. However, no assessment has been made of potential soil loss and PM10 emission from fields in summer fallow within Columbia Plateau. A regional assessment of PM10 emission caused by high winds may not only illuminate areas most susceptible to wind erosion and PM10 emission but could also aid in targeting areas for implementing alternative control strategies and USDA conservation programs. Accurate estimates of soil loss and PM10 emissions on a regional basis are essential to designing, evaluating, and developing alternative cropping systems for mitigating wind erosion and improving air quality.

Accurate estimates of soil loss and PM10 emissions on a regional basis are essential to designing, evaluating, and developing alternative cropping systems for mitigating wind erosion and improving air quality. …