Modelling transverse dunes

Abstract

Transverse dunes appear in regions of mainly unidirectional wind and high sand availability. A dune model is extended to two dimensional calculation of the shear stress. It is applied to simulate dynamics and morphology of transverse dunes which seem to reach translational invariance and do not stop growing. Hence, simulations of two dimensional dune fields have been performed. Characteristic laws were found for the time evolution of transverse dunes. Bagnold's law of the dune velocity is modified and reproduced. The interaction between transverse dunes led to interesting results which conclude that small dunes can pass through bigger ones.