Author Question: Describe sediment transport as bed load, including saltation What will be an ideal ... (Read 62 times)

Themember4 · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

Describe sediment transport as bed load, including saltation What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is desertification? Which regions are most susceptible to desertification? What causes
desertification, and what are its effects? What will be an ideal response?

upturnedfurball · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Bed load contains sand and larger particles that are too heavy to be carried in suspension. Transport is
by saltation or by rolling and sliding. Saltation occurs when wind starts sand grains rolling and lifts
and carries some grains short distances before they fall back to the ground. Falling sand grains strike
other grains on the surface, causing them to bounce along. Once saltation begins, the grains continue to
move even if the wind speed drops because the collisions continue to occur.

Answer to Question 2

Desertification is the expansion of deserts into formerly productive lands. Regions that are most
susceptible to desertification are those on the margins of existing deserts. Natural changes in climate
can cause deserts to expand or contract, but now human activities are accelerating desertification.
These activities include farming marginal lands and overgrazing livestock. In regions experiencing
desertification, there can be displacements of people and even deaths by starvation.