Changes in raindrop properties due to wind blowing using image processing

• Published in: Catena (Giessen) 2023-02, Vol.221, p.106789, Article 106789
• Main Authors: Kalehhouei, Mahin, Sadeghi, Seyed Hamidreza, Khaledi Darvishan, Abdulvahed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: cameras; catenas; Conjunctive Erosion Processes; Image Analysis; kinetic energy; particle size distribution; rain; rain intensity; Rainfall Erosivity; soil; soil erosion; Water Erosion; wind speed; Wind-Driven Rainfall
• ISSN: 0341-8162; 1872-6887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2022.106789

[Display omitted] •The impact of wind on changing raindrop (RD) properties was studied.•The study was done under synchronic simulation of rain and wind in lab conditions.•A high-speed camera was employed to study the effect of wind on RD properties.•RD hydrodynamic properties were exponentially raised by increasing wind velocity.•Findings would improve the modeling of wind-driven soil water erosion. The characteristics of raindrops are among the major factors influencing rainfall erosivity. However, the effect of wind blowing on the determining factors of raindrops was not adequately reported. This study aims to measure the characteristics of raindrops under concurrent simulation of rainfall and wind using image processing at different wind velocities under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, changes in particle size distribution, velocity, falling angle, and kinetic energy of raindrops under different wind velocities from 0 to 6 m.s−1 simultaneously simulated with a constant rainfall intensity of 50 mm h−1 were investigated through processing images taken using a high-speed camera. The results showed significant changes (P