Desert 2

GEOGRAPHY 12

DESERT LANDFORMS part 2

Despite the fact that water is the most important agent of erosion in deserts, wind is quite important too.

The action of wind eroding, transporting and depositing sediments is called eolian or aeolian erosion processes.

Wind erosion is common because there is little soil to hold the sand or sediment in place.

Deflation is the large scale removal of sediment by wind.

Abrasion is the process where sand carried by the wind “sandblasts”
rocks

Regions covered in sand are called ergs, or sand seas.

Regions which are bare rock are called gibbers, serir, or regs in Algeria.

Diagram and explain the following:

Deflation hollow or basin:
Created by wind erosion, the wind whips sand at sand-sediment structures periodically thus carving out a hollow.




Barchan- arc-shaped sand ridge/ dune of well-sorted sand, with two “horns” facing the opposite direction of the wind.




Parabolic dunes- Carved and molded dunes do to wind erosion.



rock pedestal- This is the product of wind erosion when small sand sediments carve away at the base of a mound, leaving the harder rock in place, creating a sort of “pedestal.”




arch- Often an enlarged cave or opening carved out by waves or wind.




salt flats- This is what happens when water evaporates, leaving the remnants of salt behind on a plain after a rainfall.




Badland- A landscape full of gullies, carved hillsides and ravines eroded down by wave action into relatively soft rock/ arid climate.