Journal
GEOLOGY
Volume 48, Issue 11, Pages 1105-1109Publisher
GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER, INC
DOI: 10.1130/G47282.1
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [EAR-1338331, OISE 1658614]
- Eberly Family Chair, University of Oklahoma
- Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM)
- Geological Society of America
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Production of the silt that forms loess is attributed to processes operating in both glacial systems (glacial grinding) and sandy deserts (saltation-induced fracturing). However, the efficacy of saltation for significant silt production is controversial. Understanding the potential for silt production in deserts is essential for determining the paleoclimatic significance of loess. To better assess the significance of eolian abrasion for silt production, experimental abrasion was conducted in a device designed to simulate sand saltation at sustained storm-wind velocities (similar to 25 m/s). The design differs from previous work in (1) maintaining strong measured velocities for long duration, (2) removing preexisting silt and utilizing control samples, (3) and scaling results to estimate potential for loess accumulation. Scaling experimental rates of production to geologic proportions indicates that eolian abrasion of sand produces insufficient silt to create geologically significant loess deposits.
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