The Effects on Potential for Wind Erosion of Soil

Abstract

Just as drought severity and frequency and biomass productivity are affected by climatic change (Section 2), so is soil degradation. Wind erosion of soil is considered here as it is a major soil degradation process in Saskatchewan. About 60% of the total annual soil loss due to wind and water on the Canadian Prairies can be ascribed to wind erosion (PFRA, 1983). Considering that soil is one of the principal basic resources for agriculture, such a threat to the soil is of great concern. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of climatic changes on the potential for wind erosion of soil. Effects, controls, and modeling of wind erosion of soil are discussed, a comparison with records of blowing dust is made, and a sensitivity analysis is presented. Then the wind erosion potentials of the climatic scenarios are examined. Suggested research directions and policies can be found in Section 6.