HR: 11:50h
AN: P22B-07    [Abstracts]
TI: The Effect of Strong Electric Fields on Lifting of Soil Particles During Saltation
AU: * Kok, J F
EM: jfkok@umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, Applied Physics Program, 2477 Randall Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1120 United States
AU: Renno, N O
EM: nrenno@umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, 2455 Hayward St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 United States
AB: Electric fields in excess of 100 kV/m have been measured in dust devils and dust storms. These strong electric fields induce charges at the surface, resulting in upward electric forces that aid the lifting of soil particles. We present measurements that show that electric forces in dust devils and dust storms can be strong enough to substantially reduce the friction velocity needed to aerodynamically lift sand particles. We show that electrical forces can even be large enough to directly scavenge dust and sand particles off the surface. Thus, electric fields might be partially responsible for the large dust lifting capacity of dust devils.
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
DE: 0345 Pollution: urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251)
DE: 3307 Boundary layer processes
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005