Aeolian Dust in Dryland Landscapes of the Western United States
Dust emission caused by wind erosion has received considerable attention because of its far-reaching effects on ecosystems, including the loss of nutrients and water-holding capacity from source areas, changes to climate and global energy balance in areas where dust is entrained in the atmosphere, fertilization of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, in addition to decreases in snow albedo, causing earlier and faster snowmelt and river runoff in sink areas. Dust emission has also attracted interest due to its socioeconomic consequences, including property damage, declines in agricultural productivity, and health and safety hazards. Given the potentially large impact of dust emission, it is crucial to understand the amounts and sources of dust emission, the physical and chemical properties of dust, and future scenarios of wind erosion.
Background & Importance
Atmospheric dust caused by wind erosion has far-reaching effects on dryland ecosystems of the western U.S., including the redistribution of nutrients, changes to climate and global energy balance, and decreases in downwind mountain snowpack albedo, which causes earlier and faster snowmelt and river runoff. Dust also has socioeconomic consequences that include property damage, changes to agricultural productivity, and implications for air quality and human health. We are working to understand the factors that contribute to dust emission, the locations of emission and deposition, the physical and chemical properties of dust, and the prospects for future dust emission.
General Methods
A major concentration of this work is combining empirical and modeling approaches to examine the sources and magnitude of dust emission under current conditions and under future climate and land-use change scenarios.
Important Results
We have developed simple tools scientists and managers can use to assess wind erosion vulnerability of a site, established a dust-monitoring network in the Four Corners region to better understand total atmospheric particulate loads and compare methods to assess deposition dynamics in space and time, and have characterized the physical and chemical properties of dust to better understand how dust influences atmospheric properties, ecosystem functions, and human health.
Future Directions
Future work includes: 1) developing wind erosion vulnerability maps at local to regional scales, and 2) understanding the synergy between wind and water erosion.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Colorado Plateau Extreme Drought in Grassland Experiment (EDGE)
Chronic Drought Impacts on Colorado Plateau Ecosystems (Rain-Out Experiment)
Wind Erosion and Dust Emissions on the Colorado Plateau
Ecohydrology and Climate Change in Drylands
Dryland Forest Sustainability
RAMPS: Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest
Big Sagebrush Ecosystem Response to Climate & Disturbance
Dust emission caused by wind erosion has received considerable attention because of its far-reaching effects on ecosystems, including the loss of nutrients and water-holding capacity from source areas, changes to climate and global energy balance in areas where dust is entrained in the atmosphere, fertilization of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, in addition to decreases in snow albedo, causing earlier and faster snowmelt and river runoff in sink areas. Dust emission has also attracted interest due to its socioeconomic consequences, including property damage, declines in agricultural productivity, and health and safety hazards. Given the potentially large impact of dust emission, it is crucial to understand the amounts and sources of dust emission, the physical and chemical properties of dust, and future scenarios of wind erosion.
Background & Importance
Atmospheric dust caused by wind erosion has far-reaching effects on dryland ecosystems of the western U.S., including the redistribution of nutrients, changes to climate and global energy balance, and decreases in downwind mountain snowpack albedo, which causes earlier and faster snowmelt and river runoff. Dust also has socioeconomic consequences that include property damage, changes to agricultural productivity, and implications for air quality and human health. We are working to understand the factors that contribute to dust emission, the locations of emission and deposition, the physical and chemical properties of dust, and the prospects for future dust emission.
General Methods
A major concentration of this work is combining empirical and modeling approaches to examine the sources and magnitude of dust emission under current conditions and under future climate and land-use change scenarios.
Important Results
We have developed simple tools scientists and managers can use to assess wind erosion vulnerability of a site, established a dust-monitoring network in the Four Corners region to better understand total atmospheric particulate loads and compare methods to assess deposition dynamics in space and time, and have characterized the physical and chemical properties of dust to better understand how dust influences atmospheric properties, ecosystem functions, and human health.
Future Directions
Future work includes: 1) developing wind erosion vulnerability maps at local to regional scales, and 2) understanding the synergy between wind and water erosion.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.