That Word You Heard: Aeolian Processes

Named after Aeolus, the Greek god of wind, aeolian processes pertain to the godlike ways wind can sculpt a landscape. Over time, fine sediments such as silt or sand are picked up and deposited, building dunes or scouring rock bare. These processes play a major role in shaping exposed areas in deserts and along coastlines. They can be observed on other planets, too: Many of the formations on the surface of Mars are a result of aeolian processes.