@article{fdi:010054222,
  title = {{E}lectrification of particles in dust storms : field measurements during the monsoon period in {N}iger},
  author = {{S}ow, {M}. and {C}rase, {E}mmanuel and {R}ajot, {J}ean-{L}ouis and {S}ankaran, {R}. {M}. and {L}acks, {D}. {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}n the first fortnight of {J}une 2010, experiments were carried out at a millet field in {N}iger to address the electrification of soil particles under natural conditions. {T}he experiments were conducted during a period of high wind erosion, resulting from the passage of mesoscale convective systems ({MCS}s) which generate "walls" of dust passing through the {S}ahel. {S}oil particles are lifted from the ground by the stress exerted by the wind, with a threshold for emission that is particle size dependent. {T}hese particles then collide with other particles, leading to electrostatic charging of the particles. {S}oil samples of either positive or negative polarity were collected from the soil surface in 3 situations: 1) during "quiet" periods (far removed from a dust storm), 2) immediately after a dust storm, and 3) 12 h after a dust storm. {O}ur results show that immediately after a dust storm, smaller particles are predominantly charged positive and larger particles are predominantly charged negative; this effect is still evident but smaller in magnitude 12 h after a dust storm. {T}his size dependence for the charge polarity is in apparent contradiction with previous investigations; we believe this contradiction is only apparent, because the very fine particles, which we cannot measure with our technique, are expected to be negatively charged. {O}ur results are rationalized by combining a population balance model for charged species trapped in high energy states with the wind threshold for soil particle motion.},
  keywords = {{D}ust ; {S}torm ; {S}and ; {S}altation ; {W}ind threshold ; {E}lectrification},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}tmospheric {R}esearch},
  volume = {102},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {343--350},
  ISSN = {0169-8095},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.atmosres.2011.08.010},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010054222},
}