Arid Landscapes

Arid and Humid Weathering Compared

Humid Climates Arid Climates

Rainfall Frequent Rare, May Be Seasonal, Often Violent

Soil Cover Thick Thin or Absent

Vegetation Thick Sparse-no Continuous Cover

Chemical Weathering

Intense Weak

Overall Landscape Evolution

Mostly Uniform Processes

Episodic Processes

Arid Erosion Cycle: Youth

• V-shaped Valleys • Divides Flat,

Undissected • Much Like Youth

in Humid Climates

Youthful Landscape, Arizona

Arid Erosion Cycle: Maturity

• Slopes Stay Steep, Retreat

• Alluvial Fans • Playa Lakes • Pediments

Alluvial Fans, Utah

Mature Arid Landscape

How Pediments Form

Arid Erosion Cycle: Old Age

• Inselbergs • Playa Lakes • Pediplain

Old Arid Landscape

Monument Valley, Arizona

Playa Lake, California

Great Salt Lake, Utah

Closed Basins

are Typical of Arid Regions