How Weathering and Erosion Shape Landscape

Answer

How Weathering and Erosion Shape Landscape

Weathering and erosion are processes within geomorphology, a study of nature and the origin of landforms that occur in hydrosphere and atmosphere. Erosion and weathering chisel polish and buff rocks of the earth into evolving works of art and then wash the remains into other places. Particularly, weathering changes rocks from a hard state to weaker and softer ones which can then be grounded and transported to other places by erosion, hence shapes the surface or the landscape of the earth. This paper, therefore, describes how soil erosion and weathering shapes surface by specifically looking at wind erosion in deserts.

Wind erosion is a term used to refer to the damage of land as a result of wind blowing and carrying materials, especially soil from one place to the other. According to Dove (2016), it is a solemn environmental issue which has attracted the attention of many people across the globe since it transforms the natural landscape of the earth which then cause other side effects to both animals and plants. Basically, soil movement is started when wind forces are exerted against the surface of the ground. For every surface condition and soil type, there is a velocity which is required to move soil particles from one point to other. This is known as the threshold velocity. When this velocity has been reached, the amount of soil transported depend on the cloddiness of particles, the particle size, and wind velocity itself. What has become the most concern of several people is how it changes the earth surface and transforms the landscape.

There are several ways in which wind erosion and weathering shape the landscape of the earth. The first way is deflation. This is the action of the wind when it removes or picks up loose particles from an area then leaves a denuded surface which is covered with large materials that cannot be transported by wind. According to Reynolds et al (2016), during the process of moving particles from one region to the other, they collide with each other making bigger rocks softer and weaker hence reduce to small particles. The process may continue for years, leaving a noticeable depression known as blowouts. The blowouts can become deeper making an area which was once flat to be sunken and hilly.

Wind erosion has also led to the formation of oases in areas where they were not present hence shaping the landscape. Deflation which is the removal of loose materials from one region to another can extend to a deeper level which cause a big depression. An example of such depression is the big hollow in Wyoming, which is 14.5 kilometers long and 50 meters deep.  A study conducted by Dove (2016) reveals that continuous deflation of such depression extends to the water table, hence formation of oases in deserts. In the end, an area which had no oases finds one or more as a result of wind erosion and weathering. It is important that such activities are successful in areas with low water table and high speed of moving wind.

Another process of wind erosion that leads to transformation of landscape is suspension. Suspension is the process by which small particles of soil are carried by winds from one region and deposited to another area. This process cause two major features in the desert: A depression and a hilly surface. The place where materials are deposited becomes hilly while the place which the particles ae taken from become sunken.  According to Pillans, (2018), sunken regions might not be noticed easily as hilly surfaces since wind collect such particles from a wider area but deposit them in one particular place. The hilly surfaces are, therefore, demonstrations on how wind erosion can shape the landscape.

Wind erosion can also shape the landscape by preventing growth of vegetation as well as eliminating the existing ones. During deflation, wind removes fine and productive soil leaving behind hard rocks which cannot support growth of plants (Pillans, 2018).  Such regions remain barren with no any trace of vegetation or floras which are important parts of the landscape. On the same note, high velocity of winds in desert have been associated with destruction of vegetation, especially trees.

In conclusion, erosion and weathering are among the processes that can shape landscape. Specifically, wind erosion has significantly contributed to most transformations of landscape in deserts. Wind erosion is the major cause of deflation which leads to depressions in deserts. On the same note, formed depression as a result of wind erosion has led to formation of oases in deserts, especially if the depression reaches the water level.  Suspension, another process of wind erosion has led to the formation of hilly surfaces in deserts. Lastly, prevention or removal of vegetation in desert by wind erosion has transformed the landscape in the deserts.