Coastal & Marine Geology InfoBank

USGS CMG InfoBank: Desert Pavement


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Comment: 16:09 - 16:42 (00:33)

Source: Annenberg/CPB Resources - Earth Revealed - 22. Wind, Dust and Deserts

Keywords: desert, "desert pavement", wind, silt, dust, rock, gravel, erosion

Our transcription: More commonly seen than blowouts is what's known as "desert pavement."

As the wind blows away silt and particles of dust, eventually only heavy chips of rock and gravel are left behind.

Over thousands of years, this rocky waste accumulates as a layer of stones resembling a pavement, which protects the land from further erosion.

But desert pavement is extremely fragile and easily damaged.

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U.S. Department of the Interior \| U.S. Geological Survey URL: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/programs/html/school/moviepage/20.01.19.html Page Contact: InfoBank staff Page Last Modified: Fri Sep 18 02:38:07 PDT 2009 (wcs)