Wind : can cause erosion and deposition

1
Wind can cause erosion and deposition

• Saltation- the skipping and bouncing of soil,
  sand and rock due to wind
• Deflation- fine dry soil particles are blown
  away. Top layer of soft dust and soil is removed.
  Desert pavement is formed, surface made of
  pebbles and broken rocks.
• Deflation hollows- wind scoops out depressions in
  the landscape
• Abrasion- grinding and wearing down of rock by
  other rock or particles. Sandblasting to polish
  rocks.

2

• Wind can deposit all sediment over time. Amount
  and size of sediment depends on wind speed.
  Faster speeds pick up more material and heavier
  particles are picked up.
• Wind speed slows particles deposited by weight,
  heavy first.

3
dunes

• Wind hits an obstacle it slows down and because
  its speed is slower it deposits heaviest sediment
• The material builds up and obstacle gets bigger
• A sand dune is created when original obstacle is
  buried under much sediment

4
dunes

• Dunes move in the same direction as wind
• Wind carries sediment up the gently sloped side
  and over the slip face