WIND EROSION PREDICTION OVER THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT

Wind erosion is a complicated process influenced by weather patterns, soil conditions, and vegetation cover. In this work we present an inte grated wind erosion assessment and prediction system which couples a w ind erosion scheme with an atmospheric prediction model and a Geograph ic Information System database. The system is applied to the February 1996 dust storms over the Australian continent and the predictions are in good agreement with meteorological records and satellite images. I t is found that over the 1 week period from February 6 to 12, 1996, th e total dust emission from the Australian continent was around 6 milli on tons. As demonstrated in this study, the system cap be used to iden tify areas and periods under wind erosion threat and to identify the r esponsible environmental factors. For atmospheric studies the integrat ed system provides a possibility of quantifying the sources of dust pa rticles which in turn play an important role in atmospheric radiative processes.