Eolian erosion
Wind erodes the Earth’s surface by deflation, the removal of loose, fine-grained particles by the turbulent eddy action of the wind, and by abrasion, the wearing down of surfaces by the grinding action and sand blasting of windborne particles.
Most eolian deflation zones are composed of desert pavement, a sheetlike surface of rock fragments that remains after wind and water have removed the fine particles. Almost half of the Earth’s desert surfaces are stony deflation zones. The rock mantle in desert pavements protects the underlying material from deflation.
The sand and rock of China’s Turpan Depression resemble closely those in the view of the Martian surface on page 21.
The arrow points to shiny black desert varnish on these rocks of Egypt’s southwest desert (photograph by Carol Breed).
A dark, shiny stain, called desert varnish or rock varnish, is often found on surfaces of some desert rocks that have been exposed at the surface for a long period of time. Manganese, iron oxides, hydroxides, and clay minerals form most varnishes and provide the shine.
Deflation basins, called blowouts, are hollows formed by the removal of particles by wind. Blowouts are generally small, but may be up to several kilometers in diameter.
Wind-driven grains abrade landforms. Grinding by particles carried in the wind creates grooves or small depressions. Ventifacts are rocks which have been cut, and sometimes polished, by the abrasive action of wind.
Sculpted landforms, called yardangs, are up to tens of meters high and kilometers long and are forms that have been streamlined by desert winds. The famous sphinx at Giza in Egypt may be a modified yardang.
Yardangs of the Lut Desert of Iran. These yardangs are among the largest on Earth, with almost 100 meters of relief.
View from Landsat.
View from high-altitude photograph (photograph by U.S. Air Force).
View from low-altitude photograph (photograph by J.T. Daniels).