Contributions to atmospheric dust production of natural and anthropogenic emissions in a recreational area designated for off-road vehicular activity (Nellis Dunes, Nevada, USA)

Abstract

Wind erosion measurements and experiments with off-road vehicles (ORV) were conducted in the Nellis Dunes Recreation Area (NDRA) near Las Vegas, Nevada. Wind erosion was measured during one complete year. ORV emissions were measured for 3 types of vehicles (dirt bikes, dune buggies, 4-wheelers) and for various driving speeds up to 56kmh−1. This study investigates the mutual contributions of wind erosion and ORV in the total emission of dust in NDRA. The highest emissions generated by wind erosion occur in the sandy areas, and especially in the sand dunes. These areas produce only very little dust during ORV driving. By far the most ORV dust is generated in areas of silt and rock-covered silt, where protective surface crusts and surficial rock layers are destroyed by the driving and large reservoirs of emittable dust are available in the top layer. On an annual basis the amounts of dust produced in NDRA are almost equal for wind erosion and ORV. Management in the NDRA is complicated by the intense wind erosion in the sand dunes. Even while ORV driving does not create significant emissions in these areas, drivers can potentially inhale large amounts of dust produced locally by wind erosion.