10.4. Fluvial Desert Landforms

Despite being a dry climate arid and semi-arid regions are also influenced by the action of water. Running water is also an important external agent for landform development in deserts. Though rare, the rainfall is intense in its effect on the lightly vegetated cover region of desert

and produce abrupt runoff. This occasional rainfall in the deserts results in flash-floods. Loose gravels, sand and fine dust are swept down the hill sides. They cut deep gullies and ravines forming badland topography. The Chambal present a typical example of badland.

Some of the important landforms resulting from fluvial action in deserts are pediments, bajada, and playas.