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Cross‐sectional profiles of sand ripples, megaripples, and dunes: a method for discriminating between formational mechanisms
Author(s) -
Zimbelman James R.,
Williams Steven H.,
Johnston Andrew K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3243
Subject(s) - crest , geology , ripple , aeolian processes , scaling , feature (linguistics) , geometry , geomorphology , magnitude (astronomy) , bedform , function (biology) , mineralogy , mathematics , physics , optics , sediment transport , sediment , linguistics , philosophy , quantum mechanics , voltage , evolutionary biology , biology , astronomy
Cross‐sectional profiles of sand ripples, megaripples, and sand dunes provide a useful tool for discriminating between formation by ripple and dune processes. Feature width, defined as the basal break in slope along the profile to either side of the crest, represents a good standard for comparison of profile attributes across more than three orders of magnitude. Aspect ratio (height/width) as a function of log width separates measurements into clusters representing differing mechanisms of formation. Scaling both height and distance for individual profiles by feature width facilitates comparison of profile shapes across three orders of magnitude in width. The data presented here should prove useful for evaluating possible mechanisms of origin for aeolian features observed remotely, including on planetary bodies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.