A GIS-toolbox for a landscape structure based Wind Erosion Risk Assessment (WERA)

The landscape structure influences the local wind field by lowering the wind speed and thus reducing the wind erosion risk. An important parameter is the height of each landscape element, as this determines the length of wind protection behind it. Further determining parameters are the wind speeds above a threshold value for initiating wind erosion and the corresponding wind directions. The presented method combines heights of landscape elements and the directional transport capacities of erosive wind speeds to derive a map of the spatial wind speed reduction by landscape structures. This map can be combined with the soil-derived erodibility map to get finally a wind erosion risk map which includes landscape effects.

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  The ArcGIS toolbox “WERA” allows a detailed analysis of the landscape structure on wind erosion processes,.
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  The method allows both the identification of risk areas and needs for additional plantings of LE.
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  The area-specific query determines the wind erosion risk for field blocks, districts or municipalities.