subaerial
On land's surface
Subaerial describes something occurring or existing in the open air, on the earth's surface rather than underwater or underground.
The term appears mainly in geology and geography: subaerial erosion, subaerial volcanic activity.
A subaerial landform is one shaped by atmospheric processes—wind, rain, freezing—rather than by marine or subterranean forces.
Gradual wearing away
- exfoliationShedding surface skin cells
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- deflationSustained decrease in prices
- thermal stressStrain from temperature change
chemical weathering · oxidation · hydrolysis · dissolution · carbonation · rockfall · creep · gullying
Gaseous layer around planets
- airGaseous envelope surrounding Earth
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- windAir current outdoors
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
precipitation · frost · drought · temperature · evaporation · desiccation · radiation · open-air
erosion
Gradual wearing away
- exfoliationShedding surface skin cells
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- deflationSustained decrease in prices
thermal stress · chemical weathering · oxidation · hydrolysis · dissolution · carbonation · rockfall · creep · gullying · rill
atmosphere
Gaseous layer around planets
humidity · precipitation · frost · drought · temperature · evaporation · desiccation · radiation · open-air · unsubmerged
outcrop
Surfacing native stone
escarpment · cliff · mesa · butte · pediment · inselberg · tor · karst · talus · scree
lava flow
Moving volcanic discharge
- pyroclasticHot eruption debris
- tephraEjected volcanic material
- ash fallAirborne volcanic debris settling
volcanic cone · crater · caldera · fumarole · vent · eruption · basalt · pumice · scoria · tuff
subaerialsubaqueous
Beneath water's surface
submarine · underwater · subterranean · underground · subsurface