Author Question: Briefly describe two hypotheses used to explain the formation of desert pavement. What will be an ... (Read 54 times)

Chelseaamend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 545
Briefly describe two hypotheses used to explain the formation of desert pavement.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe how sand dunes migrate.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



katieost

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 358
Answer to Question 1

Desert pavement is thought to form by either (1) deflation lowering the land surface by removing sand and silt from poorly sorted sediment, leaving only gravel and pebbles behind in a cobblestone-type arrangement, or (2) a surface that initially consists of pebbles trapping fine wind-blown sediment at protruding cobbles, forcing the fine grains to settle downward between the pebble spaces.

Answer to Question 2

Due to obstacles (vegetation, rocks, and so on) creating shadows that protect from prevailing winds, grains of sand can be deposited and remain in these wind shadows. Eventually, the sand accumulates into a dune with an asymmetrical profile, the windward slope being gently inclined and the leeward slope being steep. Between this profile and the prevailing winds, sand is continually rolled up the gentle slope and falls down the steep slope (slip face), slowly migrating the dune in the direction of air movement.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Patients who have been on total parenteral nutrition for more than a few days may need to have foods gradually reintroduced to give the digestive tract time to start working again.

Did you know?

Pope Sylvester II tried to introduce Arabic numbers into Europe between the years 999 and 1003, but their use did not catch on for a few more centuries, and Roman numerals continued to be the primary number system.

Did you know?

More than 4.4billion prescriptions were dispensed within the United States in 2016.

Did you know?

Once thought to have neurofibromatosis, Joseph Merrick (also known as "the elephant man") is now, in retrospect, thought by clinical experts to have had Proteus syndrome. This endocrine disease causes continued and abnormal growth of the bones, muscles, skin, and so on and can become completely debilitating with severe deformities occurring anywhere on the body.

Did you know?

Elderly adults are at greatest risk of stroke and myocardial infarction and have the most to gain from prophylaxis. Patients ages 60 to 80 years with blood pressures above 160/90 mm Hg should benefit from antihypertensive treatment.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library