A sand budget for the Alexandria coastal dunefield, South Africa

The sand in the Alexandria coastal dunefield is derived from the sandy beach which forms the seaward boundary of the dunefield. Sand is blown off the beach onto the dunefield by the high-energy onshore-directed dominant wind. The dunefield has been forming over the past 6500 years. Sand transport rates calculated from dune movement rates and wind data range from 15 to 30 m³ m ^-1 yr^-1 in an ENE direction. The sand transport rate decreases with increasing distance from the sea due to a reduction in wind speed resulting from the higher drag imposed upon the wind by the land surface. Aeolian sand movement rates of this order are typical of dunefields around the world. The total volume of sand blown into the dunefield is 375 000 m³ yr^-1. Sand is being lost to the sea by wave erosion along the eastern third of the dunefield at a rate of 45 000 m³ yr ^-1. The dunefield thus gains 330 000 m³ of sand per year. This results in dunefield growth by vertical accretion at about 1.5 mm yr^-1 and landward movement at about 0.25 m yr^-1. The dunefield is a significant sand sink in the coastal sand transport system. The rate of deposition in coastal dunefields can be 10 times as high as rates of deposition in continental sand seas. The higher rate of deposition may result from the abundant sand supply on sandy beaches, and the higher energy of coastal winds. Wind transport is slow and steady compared to fluvial or longshore drift transport of sediment, and catastrophic aeolian events do not seem to be significant in wind-laid deposits.     

Sand movement patterns in the Western Desert of Egypt: an environmental concern

Wind action is the most dominant agent for erosion and deposition in the vast Western Desert of Egypt. Analysis of wind data from seven meteorological stations distributed along the Western Desert reveals that this desert is characterized by high-energy wind environments along the northern and southern edges and low-energy wind environments throughout the rest of the desert. Accordingly, sand drift potential follows the pattern of wind energy. Maximum sand drift potential was observed at the southern edge (571 vector units, which equals 40 m³/m width/year). Sand drift direction was observed towards the southeast except at the southern part of the desert where the trend of sand movement was towards southwest. The major dune type recognized on satellite images was the simple linear type. Linear dunes are generally associated with bimodal wind regime. Rates of sand drift potential and sand dune migration were greatest at East of Owinate region at the extreme southern part of the desert. Measurements of crescentic sand dune advance from two satellite images reveal a maximum advance rate of about 9 m/year at the southern part of the desert. Dune movement creates potential hazard to the infrastructures in this open desert.     

Geostrophic sand ridge, dune fields and associated bedforms from the Northern KwaZulu-Natal shelf, south-east Africa

Subaqueous dunes are formed on the KwaZulu-Natal outer-shelf due to sediment transport by the Agulhas Current (geostrophic current). These dunes occur within two dune fields at depths of ? 35 to ? 70 m. The net sediment transport direction is south, but short-period reversals form northward-migrating bedforms. The dune fields are physically bounded by late Pleistocene beachrock and aeolianite ledges. A bedform hierarchy has been recognized in the dune fields comprising a system of three generations of climbing bedforms. The outer dunefield has given rise to a sand ridge (H=12 m; L=4 km; W=1.1 km; and an 8° lee slope) whereas the inner dune fields have achieved large-scale dune status. Bedload parting zones within the dune fields occur where the sediment transport direction switches from north to south due to reversals in the geostrophic flow; these zones occur at depths of ? 60, ? 47 and ? 45 m. An interpretative stratigraphic model is presented on what such geostrophite deposits would look like in the ancient sedimentary record.     

Der äolische Sandstrom aus der W-Sahara zur Atlantikküste

Fairly constant winds from N to NNE (Fig. 2) prevail at present at the Western Sahara coast. Accordingly, a relatively narrow field of barchan dunes of only 80 km width reaches the coast SE of Cape Blanc (Fig. 1). Very uniform pebble plains form their ground of advance in the study area 60 km wide and 18 km long. Height H, volume V, and distance D from the southern border of the study area were determined for 963 dunes from aerial photographs (Figs. 5 and 6). Data on the dune advance rate were estimated for the particular region byCoursin (1964). Consequently it was possible to calculate a dune sand discharge amounting to 93 000 m³/yr/80 km crossing the southern border of the study area at the time the aerial photographs were taken. Based on the areal distribution pattern of the dunes this sand flow probably might increase threefold within the next 800 years (Fig. 7). Corresponding to the dune sand-discharge Q_T a saltation sand-discharge (Q and q), 50–100 times larger, of 5,0 and 7–13 Mio m³/yr/80 km, respectively, reaches the Atlantic from the Sahara. The estimates were derived from two independant calculations: the dune advance rate and the wind data. If one compares the wind transported load from the Sahara with that of the mouths of large rivers (e. g. Niger River: 40 Mio. m³/yr) it seems only of minor importance. Because of the relatively coarse grain sizes (Md≈220μm) the wind sand supply is deposited mainly along the strand line. Consequently, remarkably wide sebkha plains are built forward and the shelf becomes unusually narrow. Several independent criteria (e. g. Fig. 7) suggest a fairly young age, close to 500 years of the recent barchan field. A different wind direction, from the NE, and a lowered sea-level might have resulted during the ice-ages in as much as 5 times larger wind load (? 25 Mio m³/yr) arriving at the shelf edge and from there flowing down to the deep sea as turbidity currents. The present wind load has a content of iron oxides of roughly 1.2 per thousand. This value increased to 3.2 per thousand in Pleistocene dune sands.     

Grainfall processes in the lee of transverse dunes, Silver Peak, Nevada

Grainfall deposition and associated grainflows in the lee of aeolian dunes are important in that they are preserved as cross‐beds in the geological record and provide a key to the interpretation of the aeolian rock record. Despite their recognized importance, there have been very few field, laboratory or numerical simulation studies of leeside depositional processes on aeolian dunes. As part of an ongoing study, the relationships among grainfall, wind (speed and direction), stoss sand transport rates and dune morphometry (height and aspect ratio) were investigated on four relatively small, straight‐crested transverse dunes at Silver Peak, Nevada. Between 55% and 95% of the total grainfall was found to be deposited within 1 m of the crest, and 84–99% within 2 m, depending primarily on dune size and shape. Grainfall decay rates on high dunes of large aspect ratio were observed to be very consistent, with a weak positive dependence on wind speed. For small dunes with low aspect ratios, grainfall deposition was more varied and decreased rapidly within 1 m of the dune crest, whereas at increased distance from the dune crest, it eventually approached the smaller decay rates observed on the large dunes. No dependence of grainfall on wind speed was observed for these small dunes. Comparison of field data with predictions from 1 ) saltation model of grainfall, based on the computation of saltation path lengths, indicates lack of agreement in the following areas: (1) deposition rate magnitude; (2) variation in decay rate with wind speed; and (3) the magnitude and location of the localized lee‐slope depositional maxima. The Silver Peak field results demonstrate the importance of dune aspect ratio and related wake effects in determining the rate and pattern of grainfall. This work confirms earlier speculation by 7 ) that temporary, turbulent suspension (or `modified saltation') of relatively large grains does occur within the dune wake, so that transport distances generally are larger than predicted by numerical simulations of `true' saltation.     

Determination of sand dune characteristics through geomorphometry and wind data analysis in central Iran (Kashan Erg)

The combination of wind measurements and remotely sensed geomorphometry indices provides a valuable resource in the study of desert landforms, because arduous desert environments are difficult to access. In this research, we couple wind data and geomorphometry to separate and classify different sand dunes in Kashan Erg in central Iran. Additionally, the effect of sand-fixing projects on sand dune morphology was assessed using geomorphometry indices (roughness, curvature, surface area, dune spacing and dune height). Results showed that a Digital Elevation Model of the National Cartographic Center of Iran (NCC DEM) with 10-m resolution and accuracy of 54% could discriminate geomorphometry parameters better than the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data with 30-m resolution and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data with 90-m resolution and 45.2 and 1.6% accuracy, respectively. Low classification of SRTM DEM was associated with too many non-value points found in the DEM. Accuracy assessment of comparison ground control points revealed that ASTER DEM (RMSE = 4.25) has higher accuracy than SRTM and NCC DEMs in this region. Study of curvature showed that transverse and linear sand dunes were formed in concave topography rather than convex. Reduced slopes in fixed sand dunes were established due to wind erosion control projects. Measurements of dune height and spacing show that there is significant correlation in compound dunes (R ² = 0.546), linear dunes (R ² = 0.228) and fixed dunes (R ² = 0.129). In general, the height of dunes in Kashan Erg increases from the margin of the field to the center of the field with a maximum height of 120 m in star dunes. Analysis of wind data showed that sand drift potential is in low-medium class in Kashan Erg. Linear sand dunes in Kashan Erg show that they are following a global trend in forming of these. Finally, established of geomorphometry method in dune classification will help researchers to identify priority of land management and performance assessment of sand dunes fixing projects in arid arduous environment.     

Deep‐water dunes on drowned isolated carbonate terraces (Mozambique Channel,south‐west Indian Ocean)

Subaqueous sand dunes are common bedforms on continental shelves dominated by tidal and geostrophic currents. However, much less is known about sand dunes in deep‐marine settings that are affected by strong bottom currents. In this study, dune fields were identified on drowned isolated carbonate platforms in the Mozambique Channel (south‐west Indian Ocean). The acquired data include multibeam bathymetry, multi‐channel high‐resolution seismic reflection data, sea floor imagery, a sediment sample and current measurements from a moored current meter and hull‐mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler. The dunes are located at water depths ranging from 200 to 600 m on the slope terraces of a modern atoll (Bassas da India Atoll) and within small depressions formed during tectonic deformation of drowned carbonate platforms (Sakalaves Seamount and Jaguar Bank). Dunes are composed of bioclastic medium size sand, and are large to very large, with wavelengths of 40 to 350 m and heights of 0·9 to 9·0 m. Dune migration seems to be unidirectional in each dune field, suggesting a continuous import and export of bioclastic sand, with little sand being recycled. Oceanic currents are very intense in the Mozambique Channel and may be able to erode submerged carbonates, generating carbonate sand at great depths. A mooring located at 463 m water depth on the Hall Bank (30 km west of the Jaguar Bank) showed vigorous bottom currents, with mean speeds of 14 cm sec^?1 and maximum speeds of 57 cm sec^?1, compatible with sand dune formation. The intensity of currents is highly variable and is related to tidal processes (high‐frequency variability) and to anticyclonic eddies near the seamounts (low‐frequency variability). This study contributes to a better understanding of the formation of dunes in deep‐marine settings and provides valuable information about carbonate preservation after drowning, and the impact of bottom currents on sediment distribution and sea floor morphology.     

Variations in wind velocity and sand transport on the windward flanks of desert sand dunes

The magnitudes of increases in wind velocity, or speed-up factors, have been measured on the windward flanks of transverse and linear dunes of varying height. On transverse dunes, velocity speed-up varied with dune shape and height. For linear dunes, speed-up factors varied principally with wind direction relative to the dune, with dune shape and dune height. The main effect of velocity speed-up on the windward flanks of dunes is to increase potential sand transport rates considerably in crestal areas. This is greatest for large dunes, with winds of moderate velocity blowing at a large angle to the dune. Changing ratios of base to crest sand-transport rates on transverse dunes tend to reduce dune steepness as overall wind velocities increase. On linear dunes, the tendency for crestal lowering is counteracted by deposition in this area when winds reverse in a bi-directional wind regime.     

Nourishment of perched sand dunes and the issue of erosion control in the Great Lakes

Although limited in coverage, perched sand dunes situated on high coastal bluffs are considered the most prized of Great Lakes dunes. Grand Sable Dunes on Lake Superior and Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan are featured attractions of national lakeshores under National Park Service management. The source of sand for perched dunes is the high bluff along their lakeward edge. As onshore wind crosses the bluff, flow is accelerated upslope, resulting in greatly elevated levels of wind stress over the slope brow. On barren, sandy bluffs, wind erosion is concentrated in the brow zone, and for the Grand Sable Bluff, it averaged 1 m³/yr per linear meter along the highest sections for the period 1973–1983. This mechanism accounts for about 6,500 m³ of sand nourishment to the dunefield annually and clearly has been the predominant mechanism for the long-term development of the dunefield. However, wind erosion and dune nourishment are possible only where the bluff is denuded of plant cover by mass movements and related processes induced by wave erosion. In the Great Lakes, wave erosion and bluff retreat vary with lake levels; the nourishment of perched dunes is favored by high levels. Lake levels have been relatively high for the past 50 years, and shore erosion has become a major environmental issue leading property owners and politicians to support lake-level regulation. Trimming high water levels could reduce geomorphic activity on high bluffs and affect dune nourishment rates. Locally, nourishment also may be influenced by sediment accumulation associated with harbor protection facilities and by planting programs aimed at stabilizing dunes.     

Slip rates on the Helike Fault, Gulf of Corinth, Greece: new evidence from geoarchaeology

Palaeoseismological and archaeological analysis of a trench enabled us to estimate the Holocene slip rates on the East Helike Fault, flanking the south-western Gulf of Corinth. We recognized two major fault strands within the trench: the ‘north fault’ controls a succession of three colluvial wedges and the deposition of a 2.7 m thick sedimentary sequence. The ‘south fault’ controls the deposition of a 2.9-m thick brownish-red colluvium. Based on colluvial stratigraphy, radiocarbon dating of the sediments suggests that the slip rate was c. 0.3 mm yr⁻¹ from 10 250 to c. 1400 bp , when it increased dramatically to c. 2.0 mm yr⁻¹ after a strong earthquake event near 1400 bp . The faster slip rate evidently increased the sedimentation rate.     

The morphodynamics of fluvial sand dunes in the River Rhine, near Mainz, Germany. I. Sedimentology and morphology

The dynamics of large isolated sand dunes moving across a gravel lag layer were studied in a supply‐limited reach of the River Rhine, Germany. Bed sediments, dune geometry, bedform migration rates and the internal structure of dunes are considered in this paper. Hydrodynamic and sediment transport data are considered in a companion paper. The pebbles and cobbles (D₅₀ of 10 mm) of the flat lag layer are rarely entrained. Dunes consist of well‐sorted medium to coarse sand (D₅₀ of 0·9 mm). Small pebbles move over the dunes by ‘overpassing’, but there is a degree of size and shape selectivity. Populations of ripples in sand (D₅₀ < 0·6 mm), and small and large dunes are separated by distinct breaks in the bedform length data in the regions of 0·7–1 m and 5–10 m. Ripples and small dunes may have sinuous crestlines but primarily exhibit two‐dimensional planforms. In contrast, large dunes are primarily three‐dimensional barchanoid forms. Ripples on the backs of small dunes rarely develop to maximum steepness. Small dunes may achieve an equilibrium geometry, either on the gravel bed or as secondary dunes within the boundary layer on the stoss side of large dunes. Secondary dunes frequently develop a humpback profile as they migrate across the upper stoss slope of large dunes, diminishing in height but increasing in length as they traverse the crestal region. However, secondary dunes more than 5 m in length are rare. The dearth of equilibrium ripples and long secondary dunes is probably related to the limited excursion length available for bedform development on the parent bedforms. Large dunes with lengths between 20 m and 100 m do not approach an equilibrium geometry. A depth limitation rather than a sediment supply limitation is the primary control on dune height; dunes rarely exceed 1 m high in water depths of ≈4 m. Dune celerity increases as a function of the mean flow velocity squared, but this general relationship obscures more subtle morphodynamics. During rising river stage, dunes tend to grow in height owing to crestal accumulation, which slows downstream progression and steepens the dune form. During steady or falling stage, an extended crestal platform develops in association with a rapid downstream migration of the lee side and a reduction in dune height. These diminishing dunes actually increase in unit volume by a process of increased leeside accumulation fed by secondary dunes moving past a stalled stoss toe. A six‐stage model of dune growth and diminution is proposed to explain variations in observed morphology. The model demonstrates how the development of an internal boundary layer and the interaction of the water surface with the crests of these bedload‐dominated dunes can result in dunes characterized by gentle lee sides with weak flow separation. This finding is significant, as other studies of dunes in large rivers have attributed this morphological response to a predominance of suspended load transport.     

AIR AND SAND MOVEMENTS TO THE LEE OF DUNES1

The large and extensive transverse and barchane dunes of coastal South West Africa are strongly oriented under the influence of predominantly southerly winds. During periods of strong winds (40–50 miles/h) deposition occurs on the lee slope in three ways: (1) sand is blown over the crest of the dune and falls on the lee slope; (2) rapid deposition near the dune crest results in periodic slumps and slides down the lee slope; (3) eddy currents developed to the lee of the dune pick up sand from the surface downwind from the dune and transport it to the lee slope. The size and strength of the lee eddy is surprising. With winds in the 40–50 miles/h range frequent gusts lift fine sand from the downwind surface to a height of several feet. Less frequently sand is picked up from a low position on the lee slope and redeposited higher on the slope. The addition of material to the lee slope by the eddy is much less volumetrically than the contribution directly over the dune crest from the windward direction; however, with strong winds the removal and transportation of sand from the area downwind of the lee slope back to the lee slope appears to be important in the deflation of this surface. The width of the area influenced by the lee eddy during strong winds is about equal to the height of the dune. Observations in low dunes from 1 to 20 ft. high at Sapelo Island, Ga., U.S.A., confirm the presence of a well developed eddy to the lee of these dunes during strong and moderate winds (20–50 miles/h).     

Rate and budget of blown sand movement along the western bank of Lake Nasser,southern Egypt

Three sets of Landsat? satellite images for the years 1993, 1998, and 2003 show that the sand dunes at the southwestern Desert of Egypt are generally moving towards southeast direction with a mean annual creeping speed over ground attaining 15 m/year. The manual-stickled field measurements show that the net annual extension of the longitudinal dunes in the coastal area is between 4 and 5 m/year, while the inland longitudinal dunes showed a net movement ranging between 5 and 6 m/year. Seasonal variations of drift potential and sand movement refer to a strongly high energy wind desert environment in the spring season, high energy wind desert environment in the summer season, and relatively high to intermediate in the autumn and winter seasons, respectively. The total annual estimated volume of transported sand which falls down into Lake Nasser basin attains 16,225,808 m³ as calculated by Bagnold's equation and quantities of sand collected from the sand traps. Comparing this value with the total volume of Lake Nasser Basin, which attains 120?×?10⁹ m³, we can conclude that the sand sheets or sand accumulations may represent serious natural hazards to Lake Nasser in some locations. However, the sand drifting towards the lake may be obstructed by high contour topography hindrance, and the mean grain size of the sand sheets is bigger than 0.25 mm, which needs high wind velocity more than 4 m/s. In addition, the direction of the prevailing wind is N-NNW to S-SSE, and this direction sometimes is parallel to Lake Nasser in some places according to the meandering of the lake. The total lengths of hazardous areas along the western bank of Lake Nasser, which receive the most amounts of the drifted sands, attain 43.6 km only.     

Study of Sand Dunes and Their Effect on Desertification of Cultivated Lands in Shaanxi Province, China Using Remote Sensing Techniques

About half of the arid and semi-arid lands in the world are deserts that comprise various types of aeolian sand dunes deposits. In Shaanxi Province, aeolian sand dunes cover considerable areas of the Yulin desert and northern Jinbian. Sand dunes are moving in the main wind direction and converting some agricultural area to wasteland. Remote sensing of sand dunes helps in the understanding of aeolian process and desertification. Remote sensing data combined with field studies are valuable in studying sand dunes, regional aeolian depositional history. In particular, active and inactive sand dunes of the north Shaanxi Province were studied using remote sensing and geographic information system. In this study, we describe the Landsat thematic mapper (TM) images, covering north Shaanxi Province, which were used to study the distribution, shape, size, trends, density and movement of sand dunes and their effect on desertification of cultivated lands. Estimation was made depending on soil erodibility factor (Ⅰ) and local climatic factor (C) during the period (June to September). The result indicates that soil erosion caused sand drift of 8.957 5, 7.03 ton for Yulin and Jinbian, respectively. The mean sand dunes movement rate were 4.37, 3.11 m, whereas, monthly sand dune advance rate were 1.092 5, 0.777 5 m, for the two locations, respectively. The study reveals that cultivated lands extended obliquely to the direction of sand dune movement are extremely affected, while other segments that extend parallel to the direction of the movement are not affected. Accordingly the north Shaanxi Province was divided into areas of different classes of potential risk. Moreover, blown sands and sand movement from neighboring highlands also affect the area of western desert.     

Shoal formation in the Piscataqua River,New Hampshire

The formation of a shoal was investigated in the Piscataqua River, New Hampshire, which is a well-mixed channel with low freshwater flow and tidal currents up to 2.3 m s^?1. Observations of sediment characteristics, bathymetry, and bottom current were made, and theory was used to predict bedload transport. Sediment sampling showed the bottom material to be coarse sand and gravel, and sidescan sonar revealed large sand waves directed upriver at the shoal. Bottom current measurements were made along transects upriver and downriver of the shoal and downriver of an adjacent deepwater area that was also studied for comparison. Bedload flux inferred from current measurements using the Brown-Einstein theory indicated that transport is generally directed upriver. Sediment budget calculations showed the shoal area to be depositional before, immediately after, and subsequent to a dredging operation at rates of 0.36 m yr^?1, 1.06 m yr^?1, and 0.35 m yr^?1, respectively. Predredge and subsequent rates were consistent with the historical record of removal by dredging at the shoal.     

Wind action and sand movement near Holkham Bay,North Norfolk Coast,England

In Holkham Bay, North Norfolk Coast, England, a wide beach and coastal dunes have formed as a result of wave action and wind activity. This article describes the experiments and field observations that were carried out to explore the nature of wind activity that is presently affecting the morphology of the beach and dunes.The experiments and field observations indicate: (1) Sand is blown off the beach surface very soon after it is exposed during the low tide if the wind velocity is above 3.0 m/sec. (2) Winds from the south, east, and west in Holkham Bay are offshore winds and do not exert much influence on dune formation in the area. (3) The dominant winds (those that exert most marked effect on the beach and dunes) are the northerly, northeasterly and the northwesterly winds. (4) The average annual accretion rate of sand by the wind on the beach is about 3,600 m³. (5) Knowing the annual accretion rate and the volume of aeolian dunes, it is possible to determine their relative ages.     

Aeolian sediment transport and deposition in a modern high‐latitude glacial marine environment

Aeolian sand and dust in polar regions are transported offshore over sea ice and released to the ocean during summer melt. This process has long been considered an important contributor to polar sea floor sedimentation and as a source of bioavailable iron that triggers vast phytoplankton blooms. Reported here are aeolian sediment dispersal patterns and accumulation rates varying between 0·2 g m^?2 yr^?1 and 55 g m^?2 yr^?1 over 3000 km² of sea ice in McMurdo Sound, south‐west Ross Sea, adjacent to the largest ice free area in Antarctica. Sediment distribution and the abundance of southern McMurdo Volcanic Group‐derived glass, show that most sediment originates from the McMurdo Ice Shelf and nearby coastal outcrops. Almost no sediment is derived from the extensive ice free areas of the McMurdo Dry Valleys due to winnowed surficial layers shielding sand‐sized and silt‐sized material from wind erosion and because of the imposing topographic barrier of the north‐south aligned piedmont glaciers. Southerly winds of intermediate strength (ca 20 m sec^?1) are primarily responsible for transporting sediment northwards and offshore. The results presented here indicate that sand‐sized sediment does not travel more than ca 5 km offshore, but very‐fine sand and silt grains can travel >100 km from source. For sites >10 km from the coast, the mass accumulation rate is relatively uniform (1·14 ± 0·57 g m^?2 yr^?1), three orders of magnitude above estimated global atmospheric dust values for the region. This uniformity represents a sea floor sedimentation rate of only 0·2 cm kyr^?1, well below the rates of >9 cm kyr^?1 reported for biogenic‐dominated sedimentation measured over much of the Ross Sea. These results show that, even for this region of high‐windblown sediment flux, aeolian processes are only a minor contributor to sea floor sedimentation, excepting areas proximal to coastal sources.     

The spatial and temporal variability of sand erosion across a stabilizing coastal dune field

This study aimed at quantifying the temporal and spatial variability in sand erosion and deposition over a coastal dune field in Israel. These were measured monthly over 2 years using 315 erosion pins over four transects that were placed perpendicular to the coastline. Vegetation cover was estimated based on aerial photographs and Landsat satellite images, whereas the relative height was based on a digital elevation model. These variables were calculated for the area upwind (south west) of the erosion pins, at various lengths, ranging from 15 to 400 m. Nine geomorphologic units were defined, five related to active units, and four to stabilized units. In active units at least 65% of the temporal variance in the annual absolute changes in sand level was explained by the index of Resultant Drift Potential, with most of the sand movement occurring during winter storms. Local rainfall had no apparent impact on sand mobility, due to the low coincidence of sand carrying winds and rainfall in Israel during the passage of frontal cyclones. As for the spatial variables, only a weak correlation was found between sand mobility with the distance from the coastline (R² = 18%). Rather, sand erosion and deposition were influenced by vegetation cover and the relative height of an area of 100–200 m upwind. The values of Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index were significantly negatively correlated with annual absolute changes (R² = 40%), whereas the relative height was significantly positively correlated (R² = 36%). Applying a multiple regression model, 68% of the spatial variability in sand mobility was explained. The resulting map of sand activity clearly shows that at this stage of the stabilization process, most of the dunes are now disconnected, and movement of sand grains from the beach or between the dunes, is very limited. These methods can be applied into spatial and temporal models of sand mobility, thus assessing the impact of different management practices on coastal dunes.     

The morphodynamics and internal structure of intertidal fine-gravel dunes: Hills Flats,Severn Estuary,UK

In the macrotidal Severn estuary, UK, the dynamics of intertidal fine-gravel dunes were investigated. These dunes are migrating across a bedrock platform. Systematic observations were made of hydraulic climate, geometry, migration rates and internal sedimentary structures of the dunes. During spring tides, the ebb flow is dominant, dunes grow in height and have ebb orientated geometry with bedrock floors in the troughs. During neap tides, a weak flood flow may dominate. Dunes then are flood orientated or symmetrical. Neap dune heights decrease and the eroded sediment is stored in the dune troughs where the bedrock becomes blanketed by muddy gravel. During spring tides, instantaneous bed shear stresses reach 8 N m^− 2, sufficient to disrupt a 9 mm-gravel armour layer. However, a sustained bed shear stress of 4 N m^− 2 is required to initiate dune migration at which time the critical depth-mean velocity is 1 m s^− 1. Ebb and flood inequalities in the bed shear stress explain the changes in dune asymmetry and internal structures. During flood tides, the crests of the dunes reverse such that very mobile sedimentary ‘caps’ overlie a more stable dune ‘core’. Because ebb tides dominate, internal structures of the caps often are characterised by ebb orientated steep open-work foresets developed by strong tidal currents and some lower angle crossbeds deposited as weaker currents degrade foresets. The foresets forming the caps may be grouped into cosets (tidal bundles) and are separated from mud-infused cores of crossbeds that lie below, by reactivation and erosion surfaces blanketed by discontinuous mud drapes. The cores often exhibit distinctive muddy toe sets that define the spacing of tidal cosets.     

Ancient Martian aeolian processes and palaeomorphology reconstructed from the Stimson formation on the lower slope of Aeolis Mons,Gale crater,Mars

Reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental context of Martian sedimentary rocks is central to studies of ancient Martian habitability and regional palaeoclimate history. This paper reports the analysis of a distinct aeolian deposit preserved in Gale crater, Mars, and evaluates its palaeomorphology, the processes responsible for its deposition, and its implications for Gale crater geological history and regional palaeoclimate. Whilst exploring the sedimentary succession cropping out on the northern flank of Aeolis Mons, Gale crater, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity encountered a decametre‐thick sandstone succession, named the Stimson formation, unconformably overlying lacustrine deposits of the Murray formation. The sandstone contains sand grains characterized by high roundness and sphericity, and cross‐bedding on the order of 1 m in thickness, separated by sub‐horizontal bounding surfaces traceable for tens of metres across outcrops. The cross‐beds are composed of uniform thickness cross‐laminations interpreted as wind‐ripple strata. Cross‐sets are separated by sub‐horizontal bounding surfaces traceable for tens of metres across outcrops that are interpreted as dune migration surfaces. Grain characteristics and presence of wind‐ripple strata indicate deposition of the Stimson formation by aeolian processes. The absence of features characteristic of damp or wet aeolian sediment accumulation indicate deposition in a dry aeolian system. Reconstruction of the palaeogeomorphology suggests that the Stimson dune field was composed largely of simple sinuous crescentic dunes with a height of ca 10 m, and wavelengths of ca 150 m, with local development of complex dunes. Analysis of cross‐strata dip azimuths indicates that the general dune migration direction and hence net sediment transport was towards the north‐east. The juxtaposition of a dry aeolian system unconformably above the lacustrine Murray formation represents starkly contrasting palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions. Stratigraphic relationships indicate that this transition records a significant break in time, with the Stimson formation being deposited after the Murray formation and stratigraphically higher Mount Sharp group rocks had been buried, lithified and subsequently eroded.