Monitoring system for recording and sampling of wind erosion sediment

Measuring and sampling technology
The wind erosion sediment collector has been developed for catching suspended sediments in the air independently of the wind direction over large periods, with high time resolution. The sediment mass is recorded with a precision of 0.01 g. Wind tunnel tests and theoretical calculations allow to calibrate the trap in order to achieve correct sedimentations in the air.

System components:
Figure 1 shows the principle design of the wind erosion sediment collector. It was originally designed to trap airborne dust, it is now also used for the collection of sediment such as sand and soil.
The sediment-laden air enters the instrument via a horizontal metal tube 50 mm in diameter and rebounds onto a metal plate inside a central vertical pipe. A wind vane constantly redirects the instrument into the wind direction. The grains settle onto a dish placed on top of an electronic balance underneath the pipe. To minimize airflow disturbances near the surface, the balance is placed in a stainless steel box dug into the ground.