Aeolian Simulation Laboratory

This project aims to develop materials and methods for preventing soil erosion and dust emission, while supporting sustainable land management practices to preserve natural resources. In the first phase, wind tunnel laboratory experiments are conducted to evaluate the efficacy of control products and stabilization methods. Findings are subsequently applied in experimental field plots, including quarries and agricultural areas.

Key targets include:

• Optimization of brine/PVA application rates for dust control on unpaved roads
• Development of clay-based geopolymer composites for loess soil stabilization
• Amendment of quarry waste materials for the rehabilitation of erosive surfaces
• Application of biopolymers for dust suppression in quarry environments

Desert dust exerts profound impacts on both physical environments and human health. During dust storms, particulate matter (PM) concentrations rise well above established air quality standards. This project focuses on the northern Negev as a representative case study for projected climate change scenarios, under which non-arid regions may be expected to experience increasingly frequent dust events.

Key research topics include:

• Analyses of dust storms across the eastern Mediterranean
• Development of low-cost sensors for real-time dust-PM monitoring in high-resolution (BGSense)
• Spatial and temporal dust-PM distributions in outdoor and indoor environments
• Atmospheric PM concentration dynamics along urban routes using mobile measurements
• Forest canopy effects on atmospheric PM distributions due to dust storms
• Health exposure risks associated with desert dust (in collaboration with Soroka Medical Center)