Desert Crust

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desert crust [¦dez·ərt ¦krəst]

(geology)

desert pavement

Desert Crust

a dense, surface soil and ground formation consisting of loose material, such as coarse gravel, sandstone, and loam, cemented by calcium carbonate, gypsum, or silica. A distinction is thus made between calcareous, gypsum, and silica desert crusts.

The thickness of desert crusts ranges from several dozen centimeters to several meters. Desert crust is formed in arid regions as a result of the rise of salts from groundwater, the washing in of salts during soil formation, and the wind transfer of salts. Crusts, as dense formations, were formed either on the surface of soil-ground layers or at deeper levels that emerged on the surface as a result of erosion processes. Some desert crusts were formed in regions now occupied by deserts at a time when the region had a moister steppe climate.

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No references found			In fact, the effects of physical disruption of the desert can be a lot longer lasting than that: tracks from World War II tanks are still visible in some areas of the North African desert, and one study in Arizona suggested that desert crusts might take a thousand years to fully recover from the movements of heavy vehicles. War and the environment: war can wreck landscapes and ecosystems as ... by DeWeerdt, Sarah / World Watch Analysis of the area affected by the Gulf War already has shown an increase in sandstorms and dune formation, and one study suggests that desert crusts might take thousands of years to recover fully from the movement of heavy vehicles. Modern warfare equals environmental damage by USA Today (Magazine) The disturbance of desert crusts by vehicular activity results in erosion and the movement of particulate matter, sometimes far beyond its source area. Lands of contrast, diversity, and beauty by Rorabaugh, Jim; Bransfield, Ray / Endangered Species Update			descriptive anatomy descriptive astronomy descriptive botany descriptive climatology Descriptive Geometry Descriptive Intermediate Attributed Notation for Ada Descriptive Linguistics descriptive meteorology descriptive psychiatry descriptive specification descriptive statistics Descriptive Top-Level Specification descriptor Descurainia Desdemona Dese deseaming Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge desegregation Desensitization desensitizer Deseret deserialize Desert desert climate Desert Crust desert devil Desert Fauna desert island desert lily Desert Locust Desert National Wildlife Range desert pavement desert peneplain desert plain desert polish desert soil desert trumpet Desert Varnish desert wind Desert Zone of the Temperate Belt Desert Zones Desert Zones of Subtropical Belts Desert Zones of Tropical Belts deserticolous desertification Desertion desexualization Desha County Desiatina Desiatinnaia Gosudareva Pashnia			Desert Brotherhood Motorcycle Club Desert Caballeros Western Museum Desert Camouflage Uniform Desert Canyon Elementary School Desert Canyon Rehabilitation Hospital Desert Centre Triumph Register of America Desert Channels Queensland Desert Christian Home Educator's Association Desert cities Desert cities Desert cities Desert city Desert city Desert city Desert climate Desert climate Desert climate Desert Combat Desert Combat Final Desert Combat Fun League Desert Combat Fun Tournament Desert Combat Uniform Desert Communications Network Desert Communities Empowerment Zone Desert Community Bank Desert Conversation Community Desert cooler Desert Crisis Desert crocodile Desert Cross Community Church Desert Crust Desert Death Adder Desert Death Adder Desert Death Adder Desert Development Center Desert Development Programme desert devil Desert diamond back Desert diamond rattlesnake Desert diamond-back Desert diamondback Desert Dressage and Combined Training Association Desert Dwarf Car Club Desert Dwelling Genetic Deficient Scumbag Desert Eagle Desert Eagle Pistol Desert Ecological Research Unit Desert Empire Desert Fauna desert fever desert fever desert fever Desert Field Exercise Desert Firing Exercise Desert flora Desert Foothills Athletic Club Desert Foothills Branch Library Desert Foothills Land Trust Desert Foothills Little League

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