Wind Erosion in Western Queensland Australia

Chapter 3 – Modelling Land Erodibility ReviewChapter 3Approaches to Modelling Land Erodibility to WindThis chapter addresses Objective 2 by reviewing approaches for representing land erodibilityin current wind erosion modelling systems. Models are assessed that are applicable at a rangeof spatial scales, from the paddock (10 3 m 2 ) to regional (10 4 km 2 ) and global scales. Themodels integrate process relationships discussed in Chapter 2. The chapter summarisescurrent limitations to modelling soil and land erodibility, and examines future researchpriorities for applying models to assess land susceptibility to wind erosion. This chapterprovides a rationale for developing and applying new soil and land erodibility models inChapters 4 to 7.3.1 IntroductionWind tunnel and field scale experimentation have been used to assess the effects ofenvironmental controls on wind erosion (Chapter 2). The development of models thatdescribe wind erosion processes has provided a means for learning more about wind erosionat multiple spatial and temporal scales. While in general these models have been developed topredict the product of wind erosion, dust emission, all require some component that describesthe susceptibility of the land surface to wind erosion. The means by which this landerodibility is determined varies depending on the level of understanding of key processes, thedesired complexity of the modelling systems, and the availability of input data at the requiredresolutions and coverage.This chapter presents a review of a selection of wind erosion models developed over the lastfifty years. Sections 3.2 to 3.4 detail how land erodibility is parameterised and modelled atdifferent spatial and temporal scales. Section 3.5 of the chapter then synthesises themodelling approaches, limitations and aspects requiring further research. The selection ofmodels reviewed is not exhaustive, but represents a variety of approaches that address theprediction of land erodibility. Criteria used for the selection of the models reviewed include:69