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  • Deflation: How Wind Sorts Sediment & Leaves Behind Coarse Material
    This process is called deflation. Here's how it works:

    * Wind as a Sorting Agent: Wind is a powerful force that can transport sediment. However, it's not strong enough to lift and carry all types of sediment equally. Fine-grained sediment like silt and clay are much easier for wind to pick up and carry away.

    * Leaving Behind the Coarse: As wind carries away the fine sediment, it leaves behind the heavier, coarser particles like sand, pebbles, and even larger rocks. This is because the wind lacks the energy to move these larger particles.

    * Result: The area where deflation occurs becomes dominated by the coarser sediment, often creating a surface known as desert pavement. Desert pavement is a layer of closely packed, angular pebbles and cobbles that form a hard, protective surface.

    Here's a simplified analogy: Imagine a playground with sand, pebbles, and larger rocks. A strong gust of wind would easily pick up the sand, leaving behind the heavier pebbles and rocks.

    In summary: Wind erosion through deflation selectively removes fine-grained sediment, leaving behind coarser material, resulting in a change in the composition of the surface.

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