Particles are transported by the wind through suspension, saltation and
creep.
Smaller particles may be held in the atmosphere in suspension. The
upward currents of the air supports the weight of the particles and hold them
in the surrounding air.
Typical winds near the Earths surface suspend particles less than 0.2mm
in diameter and scatter them.
Saltation is downwind movement of particles in a series of jumps
or and skips.
Saltation normally lifts sand sized particles no more than 1cm above the
ground, and proceeds at 1/2 to 1/3 of the speed of the wind.
A saltating grain may hit other grains that jump up to continue the saltation.
The grain may also hit larger grains that are too heavy to hop, but that
slowly creep forward as they are pushed by saltating grains.
Surface creep accounts for as much as 25% grain movement in desert.
Aeolian turbidity currents are better known as dust storms. The air over
the deserts is cooled when rain passes through it. The cooler and the denser
air sinks towards the desert surface.
When it reaches the surface the air is deflected forward and sweeps up the
surface debris in its turbulence as a dust storm.
