Field observations of wind profiles and sand fluxes above the windward slope of a sand dune before and after the establishment of semi-buried straw checkerboard barriers

Zhang, Chunlai; Li, Qing; Zhou, Na; Zhang, Jiaqiong; Kang, Liqiang; Shen, Yaping; Jia, Wenru

doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2015.11.003

Cited by 37 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Therefore, the wind speed profile and calculation of z 0 were based on an average of 10 groups of data measured at 10‐min intervals. The computation of z 0 was calculated from the average wind speed profiles using the following equations (Dong et al, 2000; Liu & Dong, 2003; Zhang et al, 2016):

u = a + b \ln z,

z 0 = e^{(- a / b)},

Where: u is the wind speed (m s −1 ) at height z ; a and b are the intercept and slope of the logarithmic function of the wind speed profiles, respectively, and determined by means of least‐squares curve fitting.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of wind erosion control practices at a photovoltaic power station within a sandy area of northwest, China

Chun

Hill

et al. 2021

Land Degrad Dev

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The widespread construction of photovoltaic power stations within northwest China poses an environmental threat because of severe increased wind erosion and land degradation. Engineering, plant, and biocrust treatments were evaluated in this study for their effectiveness in the reduction of wind erosion. The placement of solar panels caused wind speed variation and resulted in distinct abrasion and deposition zones between the rows of the solar panels and the formation of deflation zones under the solar panels. Combined treatments (gravel and red clay mulch were applied within the abrasion and deposition zones, respectively) and moss‐crust were the optimal choices within the engineering and biocrust treatments, respectively. We found that for engineering treatments, the combined procedures led to treatments had sand transport rate reductions of 87%, while the straw checkerboard, gravel, and red clay treatments gave reductions of 51, 78, and 74%, respectively. Within the biocrust treatments, the moss‐crust decreased the sand transport rates and the sand erosion–deposit budget by 71 and 114%, respectively, while the cyanobacteria crust caused reductions of 65 and 109%, respectively, in comparison to the control. Both plant treatments decreased the sand transport rates and the sand erosion–deposit budgets, but were inferior to other optimal treatments with the best plant treatment dependent on the placement pattern used for plant establishment. All the treatments had effects on reducing wind erosion, and we strongly recommend the use of moss‐crust and combined treatments in the deflation zones and between the rows of the solar panels, respectively, to significantly reduce the severe wind erosion occurring at these photovoltaic power stations located in sandy areas.

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u = a + b \ln z,

z 0 = e^{(- a / b)},

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of wind erosion control practices at a photovoltaic power station within a sandy area of northwest, China

Chun

Hill

et al. 2021

Land Degrad Dev

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“…Therefore, the wind speed is reduced [27]. The air layer above the surface at which the wind speed returns to its ideal state is the boundary layer [28]. The boundary layer displacement thickness, which can be obtained by integrating the wind speed profile, refers to the thickness of the viscous fluid in the boundary layer, which must be expanded due to the decrease in flow velocity [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Boundary Layer Displacement Thickness in Wind Erosion Protection Evaluation: Case Study of a Salix psammophila Sand Barrier

Zhang

Ding

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Since the establishment of blown sand physics, surface roughness has been widely used in current research to indicate the ability of a surface to resist wind erosion and to evaluate the windproof effect of protective measures. However, since the calculation of surface roughness can result in different values and its applicability is poor, there are disadvantages to its use. Therefore, it is proposed that the boundary layer displacement thickness should be used rather than roughness as an indicator to solve such problems. To analyze the new indicator’s accuracy and applicability when evaluating the effect of protective measures, a wind tunnel simulation experiment on a typical mechanical protection measure commonly used for sand control in China was conducted. Indicators of roughness and boundary layer displacement thickness were compared in evaluating the windproof performance of a Salix psammophila sand barrier of differing heights, side lengths, and porosities. The wind speed acceleration rate and effective protection area, which can directly reflect the protective effect of a sand barrier, were analyzed as evaluation criteria. The results show that roughness can only reflect the influence of height on the windbreak effect of sand barriers, whereas the boundary layer displacement thickness accurately showed the influence of height, side length, and porosity on the windproof effect of the sand barriers. Compared with roughness, the boundary layer displacement thickness was more strongly correlated with the effective protection area. Therefore, the boundary layer displacement thickness, rather than roughness, should be used as a new indicator when evaluating the windproof effect of protective measures.

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“…Straw checkerboards form squares of various sizes, with sides of 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 m. Due to their low cost, ease of use, and convenient and effective features, straw checkerboards have been widely used in desertification prevention and windblown sand control in China [ 4 ]. Straw checkerboards were first used in the northwest windy sand area and have become one of the most widely-used and well-applied engineering measures to control soil erosion throughout the country [ 5 ]. In addition, straw checkerboards have played an important role in the construction of railways, pipelines, expressways, and power transmission lines [ 6 ], and their use has been extended to Africa, Eastern Asia, and Mongolia [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A straw checkerboard prevents sand from being suspended and transported by the wind, changes the structure of the wind flow by increasing the surface roughness and threshold wind speed, and reduces the near surface wind speed [ 8 , 9 ]. Some studies analysed the roughness, sediment transport, and other indicators, and measured the wind speed profile to illustrate the effect of a windbreak [ 5 , 10 ] enabling the creation of a simple model [ 11 ]. Other studies used wind tunnel simulation experiments to investigate single sand-barrier grids and to propose appropriate structural characteristics [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Straw Checkerboards on Wind Proofing, Sand Fixation, and Ecological Restoration in Shifting Sandy Land

Zhang

Ding

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Due to their simple layout and adaptability to various environments, straw checkerboards are widely used to control windblown sand in China. To fully understand the wind proofing and sand-fixing benefits of different board specifications, and to determine the restorative effects of straw checkerboard, we tested different sizes of checkerboard, determined their performance as a windbreak and in trapping shifting sand, and constructed models based on wind tunnel tests, enabling the wind speed flow field to be analysed. We also sampled the soil in areas where straw checkerboards had been established for several years and analysed the trends in soil physical and chemical properties over time. We found that all sizes of straw checkerboard effectively reduced the wind speed near the surface and formed a protected area, with the best protective effect achieved for a one-meter board. All sizes of straw checkerboard effectively intercepted windblown sand to form surface accumulation, with the one-meter board again showing the best performance. The use of a straw checkerboard also effectively improved the physical and chemical properties of soil and promoted ecological restoration. These results indicate that straw checkerboards are a low-cost engineering measure that could play an important role in desertification control and the ecological restoration of sandy land ecosystems.

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Field observations of wind profiles and sand fluxes above the windward slope of a sand dune before and after the establishment of semi-buried straw checkerboard barriers

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

Evaluation of wind erosion control practices at a photovoltaic power station within a sandy area of northwest, China

Evaluation of wind erosion control practices at a photovoltaic power station within a sandy area of northwest, China

Application of Boundary Layer Displacement Thickness in Wind Erosion Protection Evaluation: Case Study of a Salix psammophila Sand Barrier

Effect of Straw Checkerboards on Wind Proofing, Sand Fixation, and Ecological Restoration in Shifting Sandy Land

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