SEDIMENT FLUXES AND PARTICLE GRAIN-SIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF WIND-ERODED SEDIMENTS IN SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA

Grain-size characteristics and the flux of sediment transported by win d from a cultivated paddock in a Quaternary relict dune held are descr ibed. Sediments were collected at seven heights between 0.7 and 2.0 m. The distribution of sediment mass with height is explained by a power function (of the order of -1), which is highly skewed towards the bed . The distribution of < 90 mu m sediment mass is explained by a log fu nction of height and is less skewed towards the bed because these fine r particles are influenced by the vertical velocity component of the w ind. The particle-size distribution (PSD) of the eroded sediments is s trongly influenced by the PSD of the parent material. Enrichment of th e suspended sediment (PSA < 90 mu m) was in the order of 2.3 times. Se diment flux measurements show that 93 per cent of the erosion occurred in 3 per cent of the time.