On a global perspective,wind andwater erosion are the main factors causing soil degradation. Most soil erosion studies either focus on wind or water erosion, and only few investigations take into account that both processes are not necessarily related to separate climatic zones. Considering that strong storm events are often followed by heavy rainfall events, it is evident that wind and water erosion can occur almost at the same time. As a result, very little quantitative field data is available on the relative importance of soil detachment and transport between wind and water erosion.

Despite recent work on the influence of wind on raindrops and subsequent processes of soil detachment in laboratory facilities, the detailed physics involved are far from beeing well understood. Hence, actual attempts to implement this process into physically based models was not very successfull.

This study therefore aims on producing a larger dataset (in the lab and field) to fill in these knowledge gaps, by utilizing a newly developed portable wind and rainfall simulator, a precises drip irrigator, and a well equipped experimental rainfall lab facility in Witterswil.