Elongation and Stability of a Linear Dune - INSU - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers Access content directly
Journal Articles Geophysical Research Letters Year : 2019

Elongation and Stability of a Linear Dune

Abstract

Compared to barchan dunes, the morphodynamics of linear dunes that elongate on a nonerodible bed have barely been investigated by means of laboratory experiments or numerical simulations. Using a cellular automaton model, we study the elongation of a solitary linear dune from a sand source and show that it can reach a steady state. This steady state is analyzed to understand the physical processes at work along the dune. Crest reversals together with avalanche processes control the shape of transverse sections. Dune width and height decrease almost linearly with distance downstream until the minimum size for dune is reached. This is associated with a constant sand loss along the dune, which eventually compensates for the sediment influx and sets the dune length. This sand budget is discussed to distinguish an elongating linear dune from a barchan dune and to explain the complexity of linear dune fields in nature.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
2019GL085147.pdf (7.78 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origin : Publisher files allowed on an open archive

Dates and versions

insu-02925029 , version 1 (01-04-2021)

Identifiers

Cite

Olivier Rozier, Clement Narteau, Cyril Gadal, Philippe Claudin, Sylvain Courrech Du Pont. Elongation and Stability of a Linear Dune. Geophysical Research Letters, 2019, 46 (24), pp.14521-14530. ⟨10.1029/2019GL085147⟩. ⟨insu-02925029⟩
44 View
54 Download

Altmetric

Share

Gmail Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More