A dataset of global sand drift (V1.0) (1950-2021)- A Big Earth Data Platform for Three Poles

The sand drift potential (DP, in vector units (VU)) is calculated by

DPi=∑U^2*[U-Ut]*fu

where i represents 16 directions: N, NNE, NE, NEE, E, EES, ES, ESS, S, SSW, WS, WWS, W, WWN, NW and NNW; U is the sand-moving wind speed at the standard height of 10 m; Ut is the threshold wind velocity, which is the minimum wind velocity at the 10 m height to cause sediment particles in saltation; and fu is the fraction of time when the wind speed is higher than Ut. The 2 m s-1 bin is adopted in each sand-moving wind direction, corresponding to the mean wind speeds of 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 34 m s-1, and the sum of these bins is the final DP in the wind direction. Note that these mean wind speeds have been expressed in knots by the approximate conversion (1 knot = 0.5144 m s-1) to ensure the valid classification of wind energy (low energy, <200 VU; intermediate energy, ≥200 VU and <400 VU; high energy, ≥400 VU) developed by Fryberger. The divisor used in calculating the frequency of effective sand-moving winds from different directions is the total hour number of Julian years (8760 hours for common years or 8784 hours for leap years). The wind speed and wind direction data from 1950 to 2021 were hourly estimates of 10 m u-component of wind and 10 m v-component wind with a horizontal resolution of 0.1°×0.1° generated with the ERA5-Land dataset.

File naming and required software

Sand drift is divided into monthly, seasonal and yearly sand drift at the time scale.
DP is the sum of DPs from the 16 wind directions; RDP is the resultant drift potential, represents net sand transport potential under the different directions; RDD is the resultant drift direction, represents net trend of sand drift; WDV is wind directional variability, defined as the ratio of RDP/DP, represents that the wind comes from the same direction (approximate to 1) or many directions (approximate to 0). Specifically, DP_wind direction represents the DP from the wind direction; RDP_N or RDP_E represent that DPs from 16 directions are projected to the due-north and due-east direction in order to solve the RDP, RDD and the final WDV.
Scoring_result across global wind environments (1981-2020) mainly includes the 40-yr mean (the DP, RDP and WDV means, the reclassifications of the DP and WDV means), linear trend (the DP and RDP trends, the reclassifications of the DP and RDP trends) and wind and solar farm scores.

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Cite as:

Li, G., Li, X. (2020). A dataset of global sand drift (V1.0) (1950-2021). A Big Earth Data Platform for Three Poles, DOI: 10.11888/Terre.tpdc.271939. CSTR: 18406.11.Terre.tpdc.271939. (Download the reference： RIS | Bibtex )

Using this data, the data citation is required to be referenced and the related literatures are suggested to be cited.

References literature

1.Fryberger, S. G. (1978). Techniques for the evaluation of surface wind data in terms of eolian sand drift. United States Geological Survey, Open-File Report 78-405. (View Details )

2.Fryberger, S.G. (1979). Dune forms and wind regimes. In Mckee, E.D. (Ed.), A Study of Global Sand Seas: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper. U.S.G.S. Professional Paper, pp. 137-140. (View Details )

3.Bullard, J. E. (1997). A note on the use of the “Fryberger method” for evaluating potential sand transport by wind. J. Sediment. Res. 67, 499-501. (View Details )

Support Program

None (No:XDA20100104)

the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No:41901377)

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