delovanje vetra (eolski procesi) / Aeolian processes

Delovanje vetra (Eolski procesi) se nanaša na aktivnost vetra pri preučevanju geologije in vremena ter zlasti na sposobnost vetra, da preoblikuje površino Zemlje (ali drugih planetov). Vetrovi lahko erodirajo, prenašajo in odlagajo materiale in so učinkoviti dejavniki v regijah z redko vegetacijo, pomanjkanjem vlage v tleh in veliko zalogo nekonsolidiranih usedlin. Čeprav je voda veliko močnejša erozijska sila kot veter, so eolski procesi pomembni v sušnih okoljih, kot so puščave.

Izraz izhaja iz imena grškega boga Eola, varuha vetrov. Veter erodira zemeljsko površino z deflacijo (odstranjevanje ohlapnih, drobnozrnatih delcev) in z abrazijo (obraba površin z brušenjem in peskanjem).

Območja z intenzivno erozijo so deflacijske cone, ki so pogosto puščavski pločnik. Skoraj polovica puščavskih površin na Zemlji je kamnita deflacijska cona. Puščavski lak je temen, sijoč madež iz mangana in železovih oksidov na površinah kamnin. Blowouts so deflacijski bazeni ali vdolbine, ki nastanejo z odstranjevanjem delcev.

Ventifakti so kamnine, ki jih je veter razrezal ali poliral. Yardangs so visoke, poenostavljene oblike tal; slavna Velika sfinga v Gizi je lahko spremenjen yardang.

Aeolian processes pertain to wind activity in the study of geology and weather and specifically to the wind's ability to shape the surface of the Earth. Winds may erode, transport, and deposit materials and are effective agents in regions with sparse vegetation, lack of soil moisture and large supply of unconsolidated sediments. Although water is a more powerful eroding force, aeolian processes are crucial in arid environments.

The term is derived from Aeolus, the Greek keeper of the winds. Wind erodes the surface by deflation (removal of loose particles) and abrasion (sandblasting by windborne particles).

Regions of sustained erosion are deflation zones, often composed of desert pavement. Desert varnish (or rock varnish) is a dark stain of manganese and iron oxides found on exposed rocks. Blowouts are hollows formed by particle removal, ranging from small to several kilometers wide.

Ventifacts are rocks cut or polished by wind action. Sculpted landforms called yardangs can be tens of meters high; the Great Sphinx of Giza may be a modified yardang.