Question map
The soil formed by wind dust in and around hot deserts is called—
Explanation
The soil formed by windblown dust in and around hot deserts is called loess soil. Loess is a fine, mineral-rich material composed primarily of silt-sized particles [1]. It is an aeolian (wind-blown) deposit that accumulates at the edges of deserts or outside desert limits [2]. For instance, winds blowing across the Gobi Desert carry fine particles that build up as extensive loess deposits in northern China [1]. While desert soils themselves are often sandy or gravelly [3], the finest dust travels enormous distances before settling as loess [4]. Loess is characterized by its loose, fragmented nature and its ability to form thick blankets over pre-existing landscapes [1]. Although it is technically a sediment, it is frequently referred to as loess soil due to its pedogenic characteristics and agricultural significance.
Sources
- [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 17: Major Landforms and Cycle of Erosion > Loess > p. 239
- [2] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Arid or Desert Landforms > Sample Objective Ouestions > p. 75
- [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > 5. Desert Soils > p. 11
- [4] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Arid or Desert Landforms > Landforms of Wind Deposition in Deserts > p. 72