The carving of intricately dissected, sparsely vegetated terrain from soft sedimentary rock or clay by rapid rill and gully erosion, typically in semi-arid climates where infrequent but intense rainfall strips soil faster than vegetation can stabilize it. The result is a maze of narrow ridges, ravines and hoodoos with almost no soil cover, as seen in the badlands of the Dakotas and northern China's Loess Plateau.
Facts
Process Type TimescaleAbout 25 millimetres (1 inch) per year at Badlands National Park 1 Connections
Sources
1. Badlands (Wikipedia)
Formation section
Badlands arise from a combination of an impermeable but easily eroded ground surface, sparse vegetation, and infrequent but heavy rainfall.
Erosion rate section
However, it has been estimated that the badlands of Badlands National Park erode at the relatively high rate of about one inch or 25 millimetres per year.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.