Wind moves material much as flowing water does, but less forcefully. As an agent of erosion, wind is less effective than water but may have significant effects in dry, exposed areas, such as beaches, deserts, or farmland. Wind action creates well-sorted sediment deposits, as dunes or in blankets of fine loess. The latter can improve the quality of soil for agriculture. However, loess typically makes a poor base for construction. Features created by wind are most obvious in deserts, which are sparsely vegetated and support little life. The extent of unproductive desert and arid lands may be increasing through desertification brought on by intensive human use of these fragile lands.