Ch 15 Eolian Processes and Arid Landscapes
List 3 classes of dune forms
Crescentic, linear, star
The skipping and bouncing action of saltating accounts for about 80% of wind transported particles.
TRUE
Which of the following is true of loess deposits?
They are formed of fine-grained clays and silts.
Which of the following is not true of alluvial fans?
They frequently occur in the eastern US.
The rate of sand movement is proportional to the wind speed.
True
The saltating particles can initiate the movement of other particles.
T
The spatial distributions of Earth's dry regions are attributable to all of the following factors except
The equatorial low pressure region and the ITCZ
Desert pavement refers to
Surfaces of concentrated pebbles and gravels.
About ___ area of desert areas are covered with sand?
10%
The suspension of finer particles by wind over significant distances is a phenomenon known as
A dust storm
Desertification is caused by
ALL OF THE ABOVE. Poor agricultural practices. Deforestation. Global climate changes.
The sandblasting action of wind-blown particles is called
Abrasion
The term eolian refers to
Erosion, transportation, and deposition by the wind.
Clay is easy to lift from a surface and also is easy to keep suspended in the air.
False
If precipitation events occur in a desert, a dry streambed can fill with a torrent called a ___ and dry streambed is known as a ___
Flash flood; wash.
In China, the desert pavements are called ___.
Gobi
What size material compromises the dust in a dust storm that extends thousands of feet above the ground?
BOTH A & B. Sand. Silts & clays
Removal of vegetation from a semiarid grassland environment is likely to lead to
Deflation
The removal and lifting of individual loose particles by the wind is termed?
Deflation
Which two processes create desert pavement?
Deflation and rain wash
Which of the following grain sizes is most readily moved by the wind?
Intermediate
The ability of the wind to move materials
Is small compared to other transporting agents, such as water and ice.
Which side of a dune typically has a slope angle equal to that of the angle of repose for sand?
Leeward side
Desert landscapes tend to be ___ in appearance because of the ___.
Rugged and hard-edged; lack of water erosion.
Pebbles can be moved by ___ in a process known as ___.
Saltating particles; surface creep
In which region of the US are eolian processes most effective?
Southwest
Which of the following surface conditions would limit the effectiveness of wind as an erosion agent?
Surface materials consisting of clay-sized particles.
Elongated, streamlined ridges aligned parallel to the most effective wind direction are called
Yardangs
The formation of desert pavement involves both wind and water.
true
A desert is an area in which potential evapotranspiration rates exceed actual evapotranspiration rates.
true~
