High-frequency Field Measurements of Aeolian Sand Transport Rate at a Beach

Abstract

This study conducted field observations in terms of the number of wind-blown sand impacts and wind velocity in the period of 22 September - 2 December 2005 at an open ocean beach in Japan, in order to investigate variation of the wind-blown sand transport rate. Measured transport rate was calculated using the number of wind-blown sand impacts and compared to the rate estimated from the wind velocity using Bagnold's, Kawamura's, and Owen's equations. During the measurement period, the rate estimated using Owen's equation was relatively good agreement with the measured rate and the other equations overestimate the measured rate. The rate estimated using Kawamura's equation from hourly wind data obtained at off-site significantly overestimates the measured rate more than one order. Further knowledge about the actual aeolian sand transport should be accumulated in the field.