Deflation
Topic: Landforms and their Evolution: Rivers, Groundwater, Glaciers, Waves and Wind · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Landforms and their Evolution"
Meaning
Deflation is the lifting and blowing away of dust and fine particles by wind. It acts on bare ground and on rock surfaces. It works best in dry areas with no plant cover and loose, dry soil. Deflation lowers the desert surface. It scoops out shallow dips called deflation hollows and small pits in rock. When the fine material is gone, a layer of pebbles may be left behind as a desert pavement. Deflation is one of the three ways wind erodes land. The other two are abrasion and impact.
Example
In summer, strong dusty winds over the Thar Desert in Rajasthan carry away fine soil from bare fields and dunes.
Don't confuse with
- Abrasion: wind uses sand to scrape and wear down rock. Deflation only removes loose fine particles.
Related concepts
- Aeolian processes
- Wind abrasion
- Sheet flood
- Erg, reg and hamada
- Pediment
- Parallel retreat of slopes
- Pediplain
- Inselberg
- Playa
- Deflation hollow