Estimation of aerodynamic entrainment in developing wind-blown sand flow.

Abstract

Understanding aerodynamic entrainment, a critical process in wind-blown sand dynamics, remains challenging due to the difficulty of isolating it from other mechanisms, such as impact entrainment. Aerodynamic entrainment initiates the movement of surface particles, influencing large-scale processes like sediment transport and dune formation. Previous studies focused on average aerodynamic shear stress to estimate entrainment, but the role of impulse events, which cause significant shear stress fluctuations, remains under-explored. We used 12 hot-film shear sensors to measure the spatiotemporal distribution of aerodynamic shear stress during wind-blown sand flow development. We identified impulse events exceeding the entrainment threshold and analyzed their intensity, classifying particle movement as rocking, rolling, or saltation. Results indicate that after a 2-m fetch, sediment mass flux stabilizes, with aerodynamic shear stress decreasing to 78% of the entrainment threshold. We identified key trends, including the stabilization of rocking events beyond x = 4.5 m and a significant decrease in saltation frequency, indicating fully developed wind-blown sand flow. Impulse characteristics stabilize at a greater distance (4.5 m) than sediment transport (2 m) because turbulent airflow evolves more slowly. Our findings show that impulse events significantly influence aerodynamic entrainment. These insights enhance understanding of sediment transport dynamics and improve modeling of sand dune movement.