What are the largest particles that can generally be carried by the wind? Sand.

Well, nothing exists between the air and the water surface. The final process, radiation, is causing the winter-time air temperatures over water to be warmer than the winter-time air temperatures over land. The heat of the ocean is being given off (radiated) into the air, thus making the air substantially warmer.

It takes less energy to change the temperature of land compared to water. This means that land heats and cools more quickly than water and this difference affects the climate of different areas on Earth. Different energy transfer processes also contribute to different rates of heating between land and water.

When a substance receives a flow of radiant energy, such as sunlight, its temperature rises. During the day, incoming solar radiation normally exceeds outgoing longwave radiation, so the net radiation balance is positive and the surface warms. Energy flows through the surface into the cooler soil below.

Air temperatures over the ocean remain fairly constant throughout a 24-hour cycle. Air temperatures over the land can vary significantly throughout the day.

When wind is strong, how high above the surface can sand be carried? Wind transports fine particles in suspension, while heavier ones are carried as bed load. When wind is strong, the height of the saltating sand seldom exceeds 3 feet and is usually no greater than 1.5 feet.

Why do middle-latitude dry regions exist, and what role do mountains play in their existence? They are in the middle of landmasses and thus are distant from oceans, which are sources of moisture. Middle-latitude deserts at the leeward side of mountains receive air that has already lost moisture.

Sediment Transport by Wind Wind carries particles of different sizes in the same ways that water carries them (Figure below). Tiny particles, such as clay and silt, move by suspension. Particles larger than sand move by creep. The wind rolls or pushes them over the surface.

Deltas. When a river enters standing water, its velocity slows to a stop. The stream moves back and forth across the region and drops its sediments in a wide triangular-shaped deposit called a delta (figure 8).

Wind is a stronger erosional force in arid regions than it is in humid regions because winds are stronger. In humid areas, water and vegetation bind the soil so it is harder to pick up. In arid regions, small particles are selectively picked up and transported.

The best way to reduce wind erosion is to keep the wind off the soil surface by covering the soil surface. Growing vegetation, either cash crops or cover crops, protects the soil and keeps the winds higher off the surface. Standing crop residues function the same way.

The amount of runoff and the power of water to erode and transport soil are greater on long, steep slopes. Bare soil between plants is most susceptible to erosion.

Wind erosion can be caused by a light wind that rolls soil particles along the surface through to a strong wind that lifts a large volume of soil particles into the air to create dust storms.