deflation

deflation, in geology, erosion by wind of loose material from flat areas of dry, uncemented sediments such as those occurring in deserts, dry lake beds, floodplains, and glacial outwash plains. Clay and silt-sized particles are picked up by turbulent eddies in wind and may be carried for hundreds of kilometres; they later settle to form loess deposits. Local areas subjected to deflation may result in deflation hollows or blowouts. These may range from 3 m (10 feet) in diameter and less than a metre deep to several kilometres in diameter and several hundred metres in depth. The Big Hollow in Wyoming was formed by deflation and is 14.5 km (9 miles) long and 50 m (165 feet) deep. If an area is eroded down to the water table, further deflation is prevented unless the water table is also lowered by evaporation. Some oases in the Sahara were formed in this manner and may be below sea level. Dune deposits are formed on the leeward sides of the basins from which the sand was blown.