The protective role of sparse vegetation in wind erosion

Wind erosion has traditionally been controlled through vegetation in the form of wind breaks, cover crops, or residues. In arid regions the stabilizing function of sparse vegetation is effected through sheltering the soil with groundcover, reducing the momentum of the wind at ground level, and catching sediment in transport. The variables in this process include wind profiles, flow regimes, roughness concentration, and shear stress partitioning. Anthropogenic disturbances increase the erosion potential, as do drought conditions.