8.11 NOTES
How does wind cause erosion?
Objective: Describe two kinds of wind erosion and deposition
Wind has energy, and can move a sailboat across a lake. It can also move loose
materials such as sand and dust particles. The process of removing loose
materials from Earth’s surface is called deflation. It occurs most often in deserts,
plowed fields, and on beaches.
When sand particles are
blown over exposed rock
or soil, they can scrape
and wear away at the
surface. This is called
abrasion.
When a rock or other barrier slows
down wind, the suspended particles
are deposited. The sand builds up to
form a mound called a sand dune.
They can be found in deserts and on
beaches.
A sand dune has two sides. The side
facing the wind (it has a gentle slope) is called the windward side, and the side
facing away from the wind (it has a steep slope), is called the slipface.
Wind carries silt
and clay higher
and farther than
it does sand.
This is because
silt and clay are
lighter and
smaller than
sand. Some
wind-blown
deposits of dust
are carried many
kilometers away.
These deposits
are called loess.