BLOWING SAND PROBLEM STUDIED

BLOWING SAND IN DESERT AREAS DAMAGES AUTO BODY PAINT AND PITS WINDSHIELDS. THE CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS IS STUDYING METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE AIRBORNE SAND. INTERSTATE 10 WAS LOCATED PARALLEL TO THE PREVAILING HARD WINDS, BUT THIS ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE. EDDIES SWIRL BACK AND FORTH ACROSS IT. OTHER DEVICES TESTED HAVE INCLUDED VARIOUS TYPES OF FENCING AND AN ASPHALT-SHOT SAND DIKE. THESE ALSO FAILED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. DYED SAND HAS BEEN TRACED AS FAR AS 4000 FEET FROM IT POINT OF ORIGIN. A WINDBREAK CONSISTING OF 8400 TAMARISK TREE CUTTINGS HAS BEEN PLACED ABOUT 200 FEET FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE HIGHWAY. THE TREES REQUIRED PROVISION OF AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM. THE TREES HAVE PROSPERED AND ARE NOW 15 FEET TALL. THEY APPEAR TO BE OFFERING MEASURABLE RELIEF. A WARNING DEVICE TO ALERT MOTORISTS TO BLOWING SAND CONDITIONS IS IN PROPSECT. WHEN WIND AND HUMIDITY CONDITIONS REACH PRESCRIBED LEVELS, WARNING SIGNS WILL BE ILLUMINATED TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT. (SPEED IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN SAND DAMAGE.) AT PRESENT, THE TREEBREAKS APPEAR TO BE A PARTIAL ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. /PW/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 101, No 9, P 124
• Authors:
  • Conner, S H
• Publication Date: 1970-9

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deserts; Dikes; Fences; Fine aggregates; Paint; Sand; Speed; Trees; Warning signs; Windshields
• Old TRIS Terms: Blown sands; Tree cuttings
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218700
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 1 1971 12:00AM