| Abstract: | Small scale features resulting from wind erosion are widespread in the Namib Desert. They include selective erosion of lithological variations (etching), flutes and grooves, facetting of clasts and residual boulders, and smoothing and polishing of rock surfaces. Large scale features are tentatively identified and are restricted to the southern Namib, with its high energy, unidirectional wind regime. Wind erosion features are best developed on fine-grained rocks of intermediate hardness. They are oriented towards or parallel to modern strong winds. The turbulent flow of wind armed only with dust particles is probably more important than wind driven sand in creating smooth polished rock surfaces, flutes, and grooves. Wind driven sand appears to be significant only in facetting rock masses. |
