Aerodynamic Roughness of Cultivated Soil and Its Influence on Soil Erosion by Wind in a Wind Tunnel

Surface roughness is an important feature that affects wind erosion. Aerodynamic roughness calculated by wind profile can be employed to depict aerodynamic properties of cultivated soil effectively. Wind tunnel tests show that aerodynamic roughness length is mainly determined by the diameter of the largest soil clods exposed and uniformly distributed on the soil surface. Wind erosion rates decrease with aerodynamic roughness length. There are good relationships between soil wind erosion rates and aerodynamic roughness length.