Measurements of aeolian transport processes are fundamental for model development, parameterization and calibration, which help to inform decision makers. Major advances in measurement techniques in both lab and fieldwork have certainly been driven by new technological advancements, but it can also be argued that limitations in our measurement capabilities continue to constrain what we can learn. At the particle scale, we are often working near the limits of detection, while in both the field and lab, characterizing temporal-spatial variation remains a considerable challenge. However, issues concerning measurement extend well beyond the performance and capabilities of an instrument. The information obtained is strongly dependent on how we use a given tool, as well as the experimental design, and is conditioned and constrained by differences in scaling and even our conceptual constructs. As for example, the classification boundaries between a reptating and saltating grain, or one affected intermittent suspension, are usually indistinct for physical measurements. This webinar will address these issues in the context of experiments carried out in both wind tunnels and the field using high temporal and spatial imaging technologies (e.g. PTV, LDA, TLS) and examine pathways toward the intersection of these remote approaches to better understand aeolian systems and transport dynamics as a whole.
June 17th, 2024 at 10:00 am (EST New York)