Knowra Aeolian processes Aeolian processes Aeolian processes are wind-driven erosion, transport, and deposition of sediment at Earth’s surface. They shape dunes, desert pavements, and dust deposits.
Saltation : The bouncing movement of sand grains propelled by wind or flowing water. Wind-driven grain impacts initiate many cycles of erosion and transport.
Shear stress : A force per unit area acting parallel to a surface. Wind exerts shear stress on the ground to mobilize grains.
Dune : A mound or ridge of loose sediment shaped by wind or water. Dunes are prominent deposits built and reshaped by aeolian transport.
Fluvial processes : Processes involving the erosion, transport, and deposition of sediment by flowing water. Water, unlike wind, can move a broader range of grain sizes and shapes.
Surface creep : The rolling or sliding of sediment grains along a surface under an applied force. Wind-driven impacts push larger grains along the ground.
Grain size : A measure of the dimensions of individual sediment particles. Particle size affects entrainment thresholds, transport modes, and deposition.
Loess : A widespread deposit of wind-blown silt, commonly forming fertile soils. Loess records dust deposition and creates distinctive landscapes.
Glacial processes : Processes by which glaciers erode, transport, and deposit rock and sediment. Ice transports sediment through mechanisms unlike wind-driven saltation and suspension.
Suspension (sediment transport) : The transport of fine particles held aloft by a fluid's turbulent motion. Turbulence keeps fine dust airborne over long distances.
Sediment sorting : The degree to which sediment particles in a deposit have similar sizes. Wind preferentially transports certain sizes, often producing well-sorted deposits.
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