Explain the three processes which help in the wind erosion.
Answers
Answer:
(a) Detachment, and
(b) Transportation.
The abrasive action of the wind results in some detachment of tiny soil grains from the granules or clods of which they are a part. When the wind is laden with soil particles, however, its abrasive action is greatly increased. The impact of these rapidly moving grains dislodges other particles from soil clods and aggregates.
The transportation of the particles once they are dislodged takes place in three ways.
The types are:
(i) Saltation:
In saltation soil particles of medium size (0.10-0.15 mm diameter) are carried by wind in a series of short bounces. These bounces are caused by the direct pressure of the wind on soil particles.
(ii) Soil Creep:
Saltation also encourages soil creep (rolling or sliding) along the surface of the large particles (0.5-1.0 mm diameter). The bouncing particles carried by saltation strike the large aggregates and speed up their movement along the surface.
(iii) Suspension:
When the particles of soil are very small (less than 0.1 mm) they are carried over long distances. Finer suspended particles are moved parallel to the ground surface and upward.