The risks of wind erosion and its impact on land degradation in the Al-Butnan region

Abstract

Wind erosion is one of the problems facing arid and semi-arid lands due to its ability to lift and transport dry and loose particles that are susceptible to wind aeration. This research examines the natural and climatic factors that contribute to wind erosion in the Butnan region in northeastern Libya, and the soil's susceptibility to wind erosion. To study this process, the research relied on wind speed and the application of the wind pressure equation to the surface of the study area for the period (1993-2022). This study was conducted at two stations in the study area, which differ in their natural conditions, such as geographical and astronomical location and elevation above sea level. These stations are: Tobruk Station in the northern parts of the region, and Jaghbub Station in the southern parts. The results obtained reveal the concentration of rainfall in the winter and spring seasons, the soil's susceptibility to wind erosion during the dry months of summer, and the lack of vegetation cover, which contribute to the activity of wind erosion