Landforms: Aeolian and Erosional
edges of deserts. For example, as wind
 Geomorphology - Geomorphology is the
study of landforms and the processes that
shape them. The scientific study of the
origin and evolution of topographic and
bathymetric features created by physical,
chemical, or biological processes operating
at or near Earth's surface.
 Geomorphology, as a critical component of
physical geography, is needed to understand
natural landform changes and potential
hazards for populations.
 Topography - Topography is the study of the
land surface. In particular, it lays the
underlying foundation of a landscape. For
example, topography refers to mountains,
valleys, rivers, or craters on the surface.
The origin of topography comes from Greek,
“topo” for “place” and “graphia” for
“writing”.
 Aeolian Landforms - Aeolian landforms are
shaped by the wind (named for the Greek
God of wind, Aeolus).
 Aeolian processes involve the wind
carrying, depositing, and eroding
sediment. A lack of vegetation cover, a
supply of fine sediment (clay, silt, and
sand), and strong winds are common
characteristics of these ecosystems.
 Sand dunes- any accumulation of sand
grains shaped into a mound or ridge by the
wind under the influence of gravity.
- A dune is a mound of sand formed by
the wind, usually along the beach or in a
desert. Dunes form when wind blows
sand into a sheltered area behind an
obstacle. Dunes grow as grains of sand
accumulate.
- A collection of dunes is called a dune
belt or dune field. A large dune field is
called an erg.
 Loess is mostly created by wind but can also
be formed by glaciers. When glaciers grind
rocks to a fine powder, loess can form.
- Loess accumulates, or builds up, at the
blows across the Gobi, a desert in Asia,
it picks up and carries fine particles.
These particles include sand crystals
made of quartz or mica.
- It may also contain organic material,
such as the dusty remains of skeletons
from desert animals. Streams carry the
powder to the end of the glacier. This
sediment becomes loess.
 A mushroom rock, also called rock
pedestal, or a pedestal rock, is a naturally
occurring rock whose shape, as its name
implies, resembles a mushroom.
- Occasionally, the chemical composition
of the rocks can be an important factor;
if the upper part of the rock is more
resistant to chemical erosion and
weathering, it erodes more slowly than
the base.
- For example, erosion attributed to
chemical weathering at the base of the
rock due to the collection of dew near
the surface.
- A mushroom rock may ultimately form
from an originally flat area of hard rock
overlying soft rock, similar to the pattern
of rocks that form a waterfall.
- Weathering of the exposed hard rock
layer eventually exposes the lower rock
to erosion from wind, water, salt
intrusion, etc., depending on local
conditions. The layer of softer rock is
more readily eroded, leading to the
formation of a depression or blowout.
 Erosional Landforms - Erosion is the
wearing away of the landscape by different
agents like water, wind, and ice. Different
landforms created on the surface of the
earth because of erosion are called
erosional landforms.
- As mentioned at the beginning,
erosional landforms are created by
erosional processes that occur in
 periods of glacial advance. The two
main types of erosion are abrasion and
plucking.
 A mesa is a flat-topped mountain or hill. It
is a wide, flat, elevated landform with
steep sides. Mesa is a Spanish word that
means table.
- Mesas are formed by erosion, when
water washes smaller and softer types
of rocks away from the top of a hill. The
strong, durable rock that remains on
top of a mesa is called caprock. A mesa
is usually wider than it is tall.
- Mesas are usually found in dry regions
where rock layers are horizontal.
 Buttes are tall, flat-topped, steep-sided
towers of rock. Buttes were created
through the process of erosion, the gradual
wearing a way of earth by water, wind, and
ice.
- Buttes were once part of flat, elevated
areas of land known as mesas or
plateaus. In fact, the only difference
between a mesa and a butte is its size.
Most geographers say a butte is taller
than it is wide, while a mesa is a much
larger, slightly less elevated feature.
 A canyon is a deep valley that is also
narrow and cut by a river through rock.
- Over thousands of years, a river's
flowing water erodes or wears down
rocks and soil to create a valley.
- The water pressure of a river can cut
deep into a riverbed. Sediments from
the riverbed are carried downstream,
creating a deep, narrow channel.