As it buffets the sandstone rocks, the wind picks upgrains of sand,

当风吹过沙岩的时候在表面磨损出砂粒

and becomes a giant scouring pad,

就好像是一个巨大的刷子一样

scratching away at the rock surface and etching outthese lines.

刷过岩石的表面塑造出这些不是很明显的曲线

The Wave has formed over hundreds of thousands of years.

这个地方数十万年前就形成了

It may seem a long time,

也许看起来是很长时间

but in geological terms, that's the blink of an eye.

然而从地质学的角度看来这只是一眨眼的功夫

Which just goes to show the raw power of the air.

这只是展示了我们周围空气的原始力量

It's constantly at work, constantly shaping the land.

它在不停地工作，不停地塑造陆地

And this happens all over the planet.

整个地球上都是这样

The winds shape the Earth's surface on a massive scale.

风大规模地塑造地球表面

Where the winds blow relentlessly from one direction,

当风猛烈地从一个方向吹过来的时候

they can carve giant ridges.

它们可以塑造出巨大的山脊

They're called yardangs.

这被称作是风蚀土脊

These are in Iran,

这些发生在伊朗

while these are in Northwest China.

而这些也发生在中国的西北

But this scouring doesn't just shape the land.

但是风的冲刷不仅仅是塑造地形

It's only the first stage of a process that transports many vital ingredients

这只是运送对星球上的生命来说

needed for life all around the planet.

很重要的过程的第一步