Such environments include lake and ocean coastline beaches , alluvial fans , and farmland where topsoil has been disturbed by cultivation. Global distribution of major deposits of eolian derived sediments. The relative ability of wind to erode materials is is slight when compared to the other major erosional mediums, water and ice. Ice and water can have greater erosive power primarily because of their greater density . This physical difference limits the size of particles wind can move.
Erosive force increases exponentially with increases in wind velocity .
Consequently, fast winds are capable of causing much more erosion than slow winds. At ground level, the roughness of the surface plays an important role in controlling the nature of wind erosion. Boulders, trees, buildings, shrubs, and even small plants like grass and herbs can increase the frictional roughness of the surface and reduce wind velocity. Vegetation can also reduce the erosional effects of wind by binding soil particles to roots. Thus, as a general rule, the areas that show considerable amounts of wind erosion are open locations with little or no plant cover.