What is Erosion?

►Erosion is defined as removal of rocks

and soil by wind, water, ice and
gravity.
►Wind, water, ice and gravity are also
known as the agents of erosion.
 Wind Erosion
► Wind erodes dry land much more effectively
than it does moist land.
► As the wind erodes land it carries rock
particles along with it, mostly sand, silt, and
clay.
► Sand material is moved along by a number
of jumps and bounces, much how a pebble
is moved along the bottom of a stream bed.
► The grains do not rise higher than
about 1meter, and they move in the
same direction the wind is blowing.
► Dust particles (silt and clay) can be
carried along great distances and at
greater heights than sand particles
 Effects of wind erosion
► Abrasion is the weathering of rock particles
by the impact of other rock particles.
► In areas where there are strong, steady
winds, large amounts of loose sand, and
relatively soft rocks, abrasion causes a great
amount of erosion.
► Pebbles and small stones exposed to wind
abrasion show surfaces that are flattened
and polished on two or three sides.
► Rocks smoothed this way are called
ventifacts.
► Particles that have been moved by the wind
are well rounded by the repeated impact of
grain against grain, and when examined
with a magnifier, their surfaces have a
frosted appearance.
► Outcrops of rocks in arid regions undergo
the greatest amount of erosion close to
their base, because particles transported by
the wind remain close to the ground.
 Wind Erosion
► When air moves, it picks up loose materials and
transports it to other places. 
► Air differs from other erosional forces because
it cannot pick up heavy sediments.
►  Wind carries and deposits sediments over large
areas. 
► When wind erodes by deflation it blows across
loose sediments and removes small particles
such as silt and sand.
 Wind Erosion
► The heavier material is left behind. 
► When windblown sediment strikes rock, the surface of the
rock gets scraped and worn away by the process called
abrasion
 Abrasion is similar to sandblasting , as sand grains
strike against rock and break off small pieces. The
rocks get worn down gradually.
► Deflation and abrasion occur mostly in deserts beaches
and plowed fields, which have fewer plants to hold
sediment in place
Abrasion at Work
Abrasion Again!!
 Wind Erosion
► Sandstorms occur when the wind blows
strongly in sandy parts of deserts and sand
grains form a low cloud just above the
ground. 
► When soil dries out, particles of silt and clay
can be carried by the wind in dust storms.
These storms blow topsoil from fields and
places where vegetation has disappeared.
THE DUST BOWL
Wind way is the dune moving?
 Wind Erosion
► Wind erosion is common where there are no
plants to protect the soil. 
► One of the best ways to stop wind erosion is
to plant vegetation. 
► Farmers have planted trees to act as
windbreakers that prevent soil erosion. 
 Wind Erosion
 As the wind hits the trees, its energy of motion
is reduced, and it is no longer able to lift
particles.
 Windbreaks also trap snow and hold it on land,
which increases the moisture level of the soil.
► Plantswith fibrous Root systems, such as
grasses, twist and turn between particles in
the soil and hold it in place.
Wind breaks!
 Deposition by Wind
► Sediment blown by wind are eventually
deposited.
►  Over time, these deposits develop into
landforms 
► Wind deposits of fine-grained sediments
known as loess are found near the Mississippi
and Missouri Rivers.
►  This sediment was blown from glacial
outwash areas and then settled on hilltops
and in valleys.
Loess
 Deposition by Wind
 The particles packed together in a thick,
unlayered yellow-brown deposit that is as fine
as talcum powder.
►A dune is a mound of sediment drifted by
the wind. 
 Dunes form when sand begins to build up
behind an obstacle, and more and more
material becomes trapped.
 Deposition by Wind
►A sand dune has 2 sides. The side facing
the wind has a gentle slope, the side away
from the wind is steeper.
 Unless they are planted with grasses, most
dunes migrate away from the direction of the
wind.
 As dunes lose sand on one side, they build it up
on the other.
 Deposition by Wind
The shape of a dune depends on the amount of
sand or other sediment available, the wind
speed and direction, and the amount of
vegetation present. 
► Erosionand deposition are part of a cycle
that constantly shapes the land.
Sand Dune
 Effects of wind erosion

► soil fertility
► expose dense clay subsoils
► sandblasting
► air pollution
 Soil fertility

►Soil fertility is reduced because of the loss of

the plant nutrients that are concentrated on
fine soil particles and organic matter in the
topsoil. This reduces the soils capacity to
support productive pastures and sustain
biodiversity.
 Expose dense clay subsoils

► The erosion of light-textured topsoil can expose

dense clay subsoils.
► These smooth and bare areas, called claypans
or scalds can cover hundreds or even
thousands of hectares.
► They are difficult to revegetate due to the lack
of topsoil, low permeability and their often
saline nature.
 Air pollution

► Airpollution caused by fine particles in

suspension can affect people's health and
cause other problems.
 Sandblasting

► Sandgrains transported by strong winds

can damage vegetation in their path by
sandblasting.