Flat Plate Erosion Sensor for Wind Eroding Mass

This study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the new sensors design by comparative analysis of laboratory wind tunnel and field saltation data to that of existingvertically oriented sensors.The wind erosion sensor provides high resolution data of saltatingparticles allowingthe determination of threshold of movement i.e.,the wind energy required to cause particle movement.Existingsaltation sensors are positioned vertically above the surface at some height within the saltation layer.This vertical obstruction disturbs the aerodynamic medium by creatingturbulence and various other undesirable effects.The proposed saltation sensor is designed as a flat surface emulatingthe surface of the ground thus promotingnatural saltation activity, producingzero turbulence,eliminatingreverse direction particle activity from bouncingoff obstructingsensor surfaces and does not allow the creation of scouringeffects at the base of protrudingvertical sensors.There is a demand by erosion researchers for an inexpensive sensor of these attributes.Feasibility of this device can be accomplished through this effort coupled with our extensive background as the producer of the current research standard of erosion sensors.Furthermore,the proposed sensor can be produced for 1/2the cost of current saltation sensors.