Aeolian processes, also spelled
eolian or
æolian, 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 (or other
planets). Winds may
erode, transport, and deposit materials and are effective agents in regions with sparse
vegetation, a lack of soil moisture and a large supply of unconsolidated
sediments. Although water is a much more powerful eroding force than wind, aeolian processes are important in arid environments such as
deserts.