Wind tunnel and field testing of a simple sand catcher for sampling inhomogeneously saltating sand in desertified environments |
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| Authors: | A E MOHAMMED O D VAN DE VEER† H J OLDENZIEL† C J STIGTER‡ |
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| Institution: | TTMI-Project, Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Gezira, PO Box 20, Wad Medani, Sudan;c/o C. J. Stigter, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands;TTMI-Project, Department of Meteorology, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Problems of vertical alignment and vibrations of disposable coffee cups used in a modified version of the De Ploey saltating sand catcher were solved. The new version was tested in a sediment wind tunnel. Its catches appeared linearly related to amounts of eroded sand, largely independent of wind speed and wind direction, and depended logarithmically on height. The catch efficiency may therefore be taken to be approximately independent of wind speed and direction. The instrument performed well under conditions of inhomogeneously saltating sand in a strongly desertified environment in Central Sudan. Use and results show the improved simple catcher to be easy to assemble, reproducible and cheap, suitable for multipoint use to cover all inhomogeneities in outdoor saltating sand fields. |
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