Effect of averaging time on the apparent threshold for aeolian transport

A fundamental feature of any wind-eroding surface is its threshold-the lowest wind speed (or friction velocity) at which soil movement is initiated. Many theoretical equations and numerical models of the saltation process include threshold as an important basic parameter. The question addressed here is whether or not the averaging time of a wind speed measurement affects the observed wind speed threshold. Using wind speed data taken at 1 Hz and simultaneously measuring saltation activity with a piezoelectric saltation sensor it was possible to calculate threshold. Threshold was then recalculated using the same data set averaged over periods of 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 s. The results reveal that, under typical field conditions with gusty turbulent winds, long averaging times produce an apparent threshold that is considerably lower than the true wind speed at which saltation is initiated. This result suggests that high-frequency sampling of wind speed and saltation activity is critical to the accurate determination of the true threshold of a wind-eroding surface. (C)1998 Academic Press Limited.