Expressing sand supply limitation using a modified Owen saltation equation

An analysis of saltation data led us to modify the theory of P. R. Owen using a soil‐related parameter ‘A’ that gave us the possibility of expressing limitation of sand grains of saltation‐size in the underlying soil. The value of ‘A’ was set equal to the ratio of the horizontal flux of saltating particles to Owen's function of wind, times air density divided by gravitational acceleration. Values of A can be used to: (1) characterize the efficiency of the wind to move sand by saltation for different soil textures and aggregations; and (2) to make practical predictions of sand movement based on the condition of the surface soil. Values for A in a range from 1 to 10 are usually associated with supply‐unlimited saltation and are usually associated with loose, sandy‐textured soils. Values for A in a range from 0·25 to 1 are associated with finer soils that contain more silt and clay. The range of A values between 0 and 0·25 usually reflects finer textured soils that are packed, aggregated, or crusted. A decrease of A to a smaller value is a sign of supply limitation and usually to the soil changing from a looser state to a more aggregated state or more depleted state. Likewise, an increase of A usually corresponds to soil changing from an aggregated state to a looser state. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.