University of Tripoli

Faculty of Science
Department of Geology
Geomorphology
(GE 216)

Dr. Tareq Mezughi

1
 Eolian Geomorphology
⁻ eolian processes including erosion, transport, and sedimentation
⁻ Wind transports sand and silt material in different ways
Types of Eolian Transport
⁻ Creep: The rolling and pushing of larger particles sand grains (Particles up to ~ 2mm) by
the wind. These grains are too large to be lifted ..
 Types of Eolian Transport
Saltation:

• The wind transports larger-grained sediments, particularly

sand, through the process called saltation.

• This is type of eolian particle transport involves the uplifting

and the landing of the particles on the surface (movement of
particles in a series of jumps ), The uplift angles range from
30 to 50 degrees. Saltation is higher over rocky surfaces than
on loose or softer surfaces.

Suspension:

• in any given eolian environment, the finest particles are

transported by means of suspension. These fine particles
may remain in suspension for days before they are settled as
dust or loess.
 Wind erosion
Abrasion

• is the process of erosion produced by the suspended

particles that impact on solid rocks. Abrasion rates
depend on rock type, wind velocity

Deflation

• is the removal of loose surface material by wind

• Wind causes the lifting and transport of lighter( loose

) particles of soil from the ground, leaving behind a
surface of coarse grained sand and rocks.

• The removed particles will be transported to another

region where they may form sand dunes in a desert.
 Eolian Erosional Landforms
• Ventifacts

• are stones with one or more smooth surfaces

that have been polished or faceted by the wind
abrasion ( impact of wind transported particles).
They are formed in rocks that are resistant to
weathering and found in cold and hot deserts
and in coastal environments as well
 Eolian Erosional Landforms
Yardangs:

• They are formed by wind erosion through abrasion

process. Yardangs are parallel troughs cut into softer rock
running in the direction of the wind, separated by ridges.

• Zeugens (Hoodoos - Mushroom Rocks - Pedestal Rocks)

• When differential erosion of horizontal rock layers take

place

• are formed when soft and hard strata lies horizontally

causing the soft strata to be eaten more than the hard
strata. Zuegens can take the form of a mushroom shaped
rock , resulting from the intense wearing down of the
lower soft strata by sand blasting wind
 Eolian Erosional Landforms
• Desert Pavements (Hamada)
• It is formed when the wind removes fine-grained particles (sand and silt) , which
causes deflation and the formation of desert pavements.
 Eolian Erosional Landforms
Deflation Basins (Hollows)

• Deflation basins are closed depressions

found in most of semi-arid regions around
the world. They develop in poorly
consolidated sediments such as loose sand.
They are formed by the removal of loose
sand particles by wind. Their shapes vary
from circular; to elliptical to kidney-like and
have rounded margins. Clayey- sand dunes
often form along the leeward margin of
deflation basins.
 Eolian Sedimentation
• Ripples

• Ripples are the smallest eolian landforms

that are formed as result of the initial
response of sand surfaces to wind transport
and subsequent deposition.

• They form perpendicular to the wind

direction and have asymmetrical shape.

• The wave lengths of ripples range from few

centimeters to tens of meters while their
heights range from 1 to 30 centimeters.. •
• Sand sheets: are accumulations of small dunes that form on flat terrain with no Slip faces.

• Desert Dust: Desert dust occurs in terrestrial sequences and consists of fine particles carried by
wind in arid environments. These particles may remain suspended in the air for days before they
settle.

• Loess : is a sedimentary deposit composed largely of silt-size grains. Loess accumulations cover
about 10 % of the earth's continental surface. The largest accumulations of loess on the planet
are found in China where they cover an area of about 400,000 sq. km. Loess mineralogy is highly
variable because it reflects the composition and evolution of the source area. The most common
mineral is quartz, followed by feldspars/carbonates, heavy minerals, volcanic glass and clay
minerals. More than 50 % of loess deposits are composed of silt-size particles, but clay and sand
contents are also present.
 Sand dunes
• Dunes
• They are formed by wind action in large geographic
area's known as Ergs.
• An erg is an extensive area of about 125 square
kilometers
• Ergs are classified as dynamic or static depending on
their mobility over time.
• Generally, dynamic ergs migrate in the prevailing
direction of the wind. On the contrary, static ergs
occur in topographical depressions bordered by steep
slopes.
 Types of Sand Dunes
Transverse Dunes:

• They are longer in the direction that is perpendicular to

prevailing wind direction

• Their stoss slopes are less inclined than the lee slopes ( The
upwind side of the dune is called the stoss side; the
downflow side is called the lee side)

• They have asymmetrical profiles in which the stoss side has

flatter slope and the lee side has steeper slope.

• Transverse dunes include barchan dunes, dome dunes and

reverse dunes.

• These dunes form under conditions of an abundant sand

supply and a consistent (constant ) wind direction
 Types of Sand Dunes
Barchan dunes

• They are Isolated, crescent-shaped (half moon )dunes .

• are small in size and their heights are about a tenth of their width

• They are developed in areas of limited available sand with moderate

winds from one direction and characterized by erosion on the stoss
side and deposition on the lee side.
Dome Dunes
• are classified as transverse dunes because they have a similar orientation
and low flat crests
• are circular or elliptical with almost uniform slope angles.
• are common geomorphic features in the margins of dune fields.
 Types of Sand Dunes
Linear (longitudinal) dunes
• are the most common type of sand dunes that can
extend over 200 km.
• They are linear and parallel with regular spaces
between their ridges.
• In cross-sections they appear be more symmetrical
than transverse dunes.
• They move in the direction of the prevailing winds.
 Types of Sand Dunes
Star dunes

• Star dunes are the largest dunes in an erg with

heights that may exceed 400 meters. As a result,
they support large amounts of sand and are located
in zones with high sedimentation rates. In addition to
their large size and pyramidal morphology, these
dunes also possess three or four arms.

• These dunes form under conditions of an abundant

sand supply and a variable wind direction.
 Types of Sand Dunes
Parabolic dunes:

• have U or V shapes in a plan view in which

both arms are covered by vegetation.

• are associated with vegetation, so form in

subhumid and semiarid environments rather
than arid zones.