The movement of air over the earth surface is known as wind.

The action of wind involves erosion, transportation and deposition.

Wind erodes rock in one place, picks up loose debris like sand and pebbles and transports as well as deposits them in another location.

The action of wind is very prominent in arid and semi-arid regions.

It is because in arid or semi-arid regions there are no trees or hills to check the speed of blowing wind.

When the speed of the wind slows down, the sediments brought by wind begin to drop on the ground.

If this process continues then it results in a huge expanse of sand known as deserts.

Let’s discuss the erosional work of wind.

Deflation

Deflation causes the lifting and transport of lighter particles from a dry soil by wind.

And it leaves behind a surface of coarse grained sand and rocks.

The removed particles will be transported to another region where they may form sand dunes on a desert.

It is also active on ploughed fields, alluvial plains and similar place where vegetation is sparse and lacking.

Abrasion

Abrasion is the process of erosion produced by the eroded particles that impact on solid objects.

The eroded particles transported by wind strike the rocks and boulders in their path.

As a result these particles grind and polish the rocks.

Abrasion is very effective where the amount of wind carried material is greatest.

Even every hard rock is polished and gradually worn-out in this process.

This action produces landforms like desert mushrooms and rock pedestals.

Let’s see the transportation work of wind.

Wind carries coarse particles of rocks over the surface for short distances.

But it carries the fine particles of rocks to a great distance.

For example, dust blown by Sirocco wind from the Sahara has reached in the parts of Central Europe across Mediterranean.

It falls as “blood rain” in Italy or fall on the glaciers of Switzerland.

Deposition work of wind

The sediment picked up by wind eventually falls back to the ground.

This happens when the wind slows down or some obstacle, such as a boulder or a clump of grass, traps the windblown sand sediment.

Wind erosion and deposition may form sand dunes and loess deposits.

When the wind strikes an obstacle, the result is usually a sand dune.

Sand dunes can be seen on beaches and in deserts where windblown sediment has built up.

Revision

Wind erodes rock in one place, picks up loose debris like sand and pebbles and transports as well as deposits them in another location.

Deflation causes the lifting and transport of lighter particles from a dry soil by wind leaves behind a surface of coarse grained sand and rocks.

Abrasion is the process of erosion produced by the eroded particles that impact on solid objects .

The sediment picked up by wind eventually falls back to the ground. Wind erosion and deposition may form sand dunes and loess deposits.

Wind transport coarse particles of rocks over the surface for short distances. But it carries the fine particles of rocks to a great distance.

The sediment picked up by wind eventually falls back to the ground. Wind erosion and deposition may form sand dunes and loess deposits.

End