Wind Erosion in Western Queensland Australia

Table of ContentsAbstract ............................................................................................................................. iDeclaration by the Author........................................................................................... ivAcknowledgements....................................................................................................... vPublished Works by the Author Incorporated into the Thesis........................ viiSubmitted Works by the Author Incorporated into the Thesis........................ viiConference Presentations by the Author Relevant to the Thesis .................viiiTable of Contents.......................................................................................................... ixList of Figures.............................................................................................................. xivList of Tables................................................................................................................. xxChapter 1: Introduction1.1 Introduction to Thesis ................................................................................................... 11.2 Wind Erosion in Australia ............................................................................................ 41.2.1 Spatial Patterns in Wind Erosion........................................................................ 51.2.2 Temporal Patterns in Wind Erosion ................................................................... 71.2.3 Process Studies and Modelling........................................................................... 91.3 Problem Statement...................................................................................................... 111.4 Thesis Aims and Objectives........................................................................................ 121.5 Research Approach ..................................................................................................... 141.6 Study Area .................................................................................................................. 151.7 Thesis Structure .......................................................................................................... 23Chapter 2: Land Erodibility to Wind: Systems Analysis2.1 Erodibility Concepts and Rankings ............................................................................ 252.1.1 Temporal Changes in Soil Erodibility.............................................................. 292.1.2 Assessing Erodibility........................................................................................ 302.1.3 Definitions of Erodibility.................................................................................. 312.2 Controls on Soil and Land Erodibility........................................................................ 322.2.1 Physics of Wind Erosion and Modes of Sediment Transport........................... 322.2.2 Climatic Controls on Soil and Land Erodibility............................................... 362.2.3 Soil Texture and Grain Size Effects ................................................................. 382.2.4 Soil Aggregation............................................................................................... 41ix