Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS)
Soil erosion by wind is a serious problem in the United States and the world. Wind Erosion can be a threat to agriculture productivity and the sustainability of the earth’s natural resources. The erosion of surface soil by wind renders the soil less productive by removing the most fertile part of the soil, namely, the clays and organic matter. This removal of clay and organic matter reduces native productivity of the soil and damages soil structure and biological activity, which are essential soil qualities for a healthy soil resource.
In addition to soil loss, wind erosion can damage plants, primarily by the abrasive action of saltating particles on seedlings and fruits. Eroded soil can also be deposited into waterways where it impacts water quality and/or emitted into the air where it degrades the air resources. By affecting these resources, wind erosion can also become a health hazard to humans and other animals.
The ability to accurately simulate soil loss by wind is essential for, among other things, environmental and conservation planning, natural resource inventories, and reducing air and water pollution from wind-blown soil materials.
This site provides access to the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) software version used for official purposes by NRCS field offices and Technical Service providers. NRCS developed and maintains the components of the WEPS Databases and information on this site. The USDA-Agricultural Research Service is the lead agency for developing the science in the WEPS model and the model interface. WEPS predicts many forms of soil erosion by wind such as saltation-creep and suspension including PM-10. WEPS replaces the Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) in use prior to January, 2008. WEPS is a process-based, continuous, daily time-step model that simulates weather, field conditions, crop growth, hydrology and wind erosion. Saltation, creep, suspension, and PM10 components of wind erosion are simulated and reported for a crop system. WEPS is designed to be used under a wide range of land use conditions in the U.S. and easily adapted to other parts of the world.
Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: Website Pointer to Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS).
File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/tech-tools/wind-erosion-prediction-system
This site provides access to the WEPS software version and related databases used for official purposes by NRCS field offices and Technical Service providers. NRCS developed and maintains the components of the WEPS Databases and information on this site.
Funding
USDA-NRCS
History
Data contact name
Kucera, MichaelData contact email
michael.kucera@usda.govPublisher
USDA ARS Engineering & Wind Erosion Research UnitTemporal Extent Start Date
2016-11-30Frequency
- continual
Theme
- Not specified
Geographic Coverage
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location - description
United StatesISO Topic Category
- boundaries
- elevation
- environment
- farming
- geoscientificInformation
- imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms
conservation practices; models; soil; wind; United States; wind erosion; agricultural productivity; natural resources; organic matter; clay; soil structure; bioactive properties; seedlings; fruits; eroded soils; waterways; water quality; air; health hazards; humans; animals; planning; inventories; air pollution; water pollution; prediction; computer software; databases; equations; weather; hydrology; particulates; land useOMB Bureau Code
- 005:53 - Natural Resources Conservation Service
OMB Program Code
- 005:037 - Research and Education
ARS National Program Number
- 211
- 212
- 215
Pending citation
- No
Public Access Level
- Public