Pith. sign in

REVIEW 4 major objections 7 minor 101 references

Barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions: insights from grain-scale studies

T0 review · 4 major / 7 minor · reviewed 2026-08-01 · deepseek-v4-flash

Challenge this review Re-run · record.json Download PDF Read on arXiv ↗ Review JSON

Pith's one-line read This paper argues that barchan interactions are governed by Shields and Stokes numbers, transverse position, and size ratio, and that grain-scale flow mechanics explains each outcome.

desk verdict A competent, honest review of the authors' own grain-scale work; the proposed dimensionless framework is suggestive but not yet validated. read the letter →

arxiv 2607.20672 v1 pith:INHEXN4M submitted 2026-07-22 physics.geo-ph physics.flu-dyn

Erick de Moraes Franklin , Willian Righi Assis , Danilo da Silva Borges , Nicolao Cerqueira Lima This is my paper · ORCID
classification physics.geo-phphysics.flu-dyn
keywords barchandunesdune-duneinteractionsdune-obstacleShieldsnumberStokesgrain-scaleexperimentsCFD-DEMsimulationsdunemigration
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal

The pith

A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.

The reading

Barchan dunes—crescent-shaped sand dunes found on Earth, Mars, and beyond—rarely act alone; they collide, chase, merge, split, and meet obstacles such as buildings, bridge piers, and crater rims. This review synthesizes grain-scale water experiments and grain-resolved CFD-DEM simulations to argue that these varied outcomes are controlled by a small set of parameters: the Shields number (flow entrainment relative to grain resistance), the Stokes number (how closely grains follow the flow), the transverse offset of the interacting dunes, and the size ratio between the interacting objects. It provides classification maps in these dimensionless spaces for both dune-dune and dune-obstacle encounters, plus a timescale for collisions, and traces each outcome to concrete flow mechanisms such as wake-induced erosion and obstacle-dune vortices. The authors are careful to warn that these subaqueous findings should be extrapolated to aeolian dunes only with caution, because wind-driven saltation differs fundamentally from bedload transport.

What carries the argument

The load-bearing tools are the two ad hoc classification maps, built from water-channel experiments and four-way CFD-DEM simulations that track individual grains. For dune-dune interactions, the map plots the Shields number θ against the dimensionless grain-number difference ξN (Eq. 3.1), with off-center collisions additionally tagged by the offset parameter σ. For dune-obstacle interactions, the map plots a modified Stokes number St·H_obst/W_obst against the obstacle-to-dune height ratio H_obst/W. The paper also derives a collision timescale ts (Eq. 3.3) that scales interaction duration with dune separation, relative celerity, grain size, and density. The mechanism that explains chasing and

What would settle it

A satellite-based census of aeolian barchan collisions (e.g., in the Taklimakan or Bodélé deserts) that plots outcomes on the θ–ξN map and finds regime boundaries that differ systematically from the subaqueous map would falsify the claim that this small parameter set governs interactions across environments.

Watch

Extended reading notes

Core claim

On the paper's own terms, the central claim is that barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions depend essentially on the Shields and Stokes numbers, the transverse position of bedforms, and the size ratio between the interacting objects. For binary barchan encounters, the authors identify five collision patterns—merging, exchange, fragmentation-exchange, fragmentation-chasing, and chasing—organizing them in maps of the Shields number θ versus the grain-number difference ratio ξN. For obstacles, three regimes (pass-over, bypass, trapped) are organized in a map of a modified Stokes number versus the obstacle-to-dune height ratio. The paper's grain-scale experiments and simulations show

Load-bearing premise

The load-bearing assumption is that results from subaqueous bedload experiments and simulations transfer to aeolian saltation-driven barchans; the paper itself states that this extrapolation must be made with caution.

Editorial extensions

If this is right

  • Interaction outcomes become predictable from a few measurable flow and geometry parameters, replacing case-by-case empiricism.
  • The obstacle classification map gives engineers a first-pass tool for whether a migrating dune will pass over, bypass, or be trapped by infrastructure such as bridge piers or buildings.
  • The collision timescale equation lets interaction durations be compared across different grain-size mixtures, a step toward interpreting aeolian dune-field images.
  • Repeated collisions should drive dune corridors toward chasing-dominated, size-selected configurations, consistent with field observations.
  • The framework gives a concrete way to extrapolate to Mars, where crater rims act as obstacles, provided the aeolian caution is respected.

Reading between the lines

Editorial extensions of the paper, not claims the author makes directly.

  • If the framework extends to aeolian dunes, the much higher grain inertia (Stokes number roughly a thousand times larger) implies that vortex-driven bypass and trapped void regions will be far weaker; saltating grains should impact obstacles more directly, so the subaqueous maps likely bound rather than pinpoint aeolian behavior.
  • A concrete test: plot collision outcomes from multidecadal satellite image sequences of desert barchans on the θ–ξN maps to see whether the same regime boundaries emerge despite the transport-mode difference.
  • The parameter-sparse description suggests agent-based dune-field models could adopt these grain-scale-informed rules directly, making large-scale simulations consistent with grain-scale physics.
Share X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit HN

Signed reviews

No signed human review yet.

Editorial analysis

A structured set of objections, weighed in public.

Desk editor's note, referee report, and a circularity audit.

Referee Report

4 major / 7 minor

Summary. This review synthesizes experimental and numerical work on binary barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions, focusing on grain-scale subaqueous studies (water flumes, annular channels, CFD-DEM) and placing them in the context of remote sensing and aeolian dune fields. The central proposal is that interaction outcomes are controlled by a small set of dimensionless parameters: Shields number, Stokes number, transverse offset, and size ratio. The paper presents ad hoc classification maps (Fig. 4 for barchan-barchan; Fig. 7e for barchan-obstacle), a collision timescale (Eq. 3.3), and detailed discussions of flow structures, grain trajectories, and forces. It ends with caveats about extrapolating subaqueous results to aeolian environments and with a call for systematic field-based validation.

Significance. The synthesis is useful: it gathers recent grain-scale experiments and CFD-DEM simulations, documents mechanisms (wake-induced repulsion, vortex-driven trapping, force distributions), and carefully states limitations, e.g. 'should be interpreted with caution' (Section 3(a)(i)) and 'extrapolations ... must be carried out with caution' (Section 3(b)). If the proposed dimensionless organization were established, it would provide practical, falsifiable tools for predicting collision and obstacle-interaction outcomes. However, the manuscript's central claim is stronger than the evidence it assembles: no independent validation is shown, the barchan-barchan maps omit Stokes number, the obstacle map rests on sparse data, and the timescale collapse spans a factor of 50. These are not mere presentation issues; they bear directly on the abstract's proposal. The review's contribution as a summary of mechanisms is significant, but its predictive framework is not yet supported.

major comments (4)
  1. [Abstract; Sec. 3(a)(i), Fig. 4] The abstract states that barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions 'depend basically on the Shields and Stokes numbers ... transverse position ... and size ratio.' For the barchan-barchan case, however, the only quantitative organizers shown are the θ–ξ_N maps in Fig. 4, with the transverse offset σ encoded by symbols; Stokes number appears nowhere and no experiment or simulation is cited that varies St while holding θ, ξ_N, and σ fixed. Thus the role of St in barchan-barchan interactions is unsupported by the review's own evidence. This is load-bearing for the central proposal; either supply such evidence or narrow the claim.
  2. [Sec. 4, Eq. (4.1), Fig. 7e] The barchan-obstacle map is built from the experiments of Assis et al. [11] plus three CFD-DEM points from Lima et al. [70]. It uses the modified Stokes grouping St H_obst/W_obst and the size ratio H_obst/W, but obstacle shape (cylinder vs block; Fig. 7a-d) is not a coordinate and no test of shape irrelevance is reported. With this data density and an ad hoc dimensionless group, the statement in Sec. 4 that these maps 'provide a predictive framework' is not supported. The later call for 'systematic field-based validation' (Sec. 5) is appropriate but underscores the gap.
  3. [Sec. 3(a)(ii), Eq. (3.3)] The timescale t_s is proposed as a scaling framework for collision duration, yet the measured durations divided by t_s vary between 0.04 and 2—a factor of 50. A collapse spanning two orders of magnitude does not validate a scaling law unless the residual is shown to be random and small relative to the variations in the input parameters. The text neither explains nor analyzes this spread, so the assertion that t_s allows comparison 'across different sediment compositions' is not yet demonstrated.
  4. [Sec. 5; Overall] Neither classification map nor the timescale is tested against an independent data set; each is constructed from the same data it organizes. Given that the proposed controls are partly ad hoc and that the conclusions explicitly call for validation, the abstract's 'we propose' should be framed as a hypothesis to be tested rather than as an established result. This is fixable by reframing, or by adding an explicit re-analysis of an independent subaqueous or field data set.
minor comments (7)
  1. [Sec. 2(b), Fig. 1 caption] Typo: 'layouts ot the four devices' should be 'layouts of the four devices'.
  2. [Fig. 7e caption] Typo: 'apace' should be 'space'.
  3. [Eq. (3.3)] The symbols D_t and D_i are used but never defined; \bar d is the mean grain diameter, so D likely denotes dune length/width. Please define them.
  4. [Table 3] The column heading 'Duran et al. [34]' seems mismatched: the row entries correspond to Durán et al. 2005 (ref. [33]) on breeding and solitary-wave behavior; ref. [34] is the 2011 size-distribution paper. Please verify.
  5. [Sec. 3(a)(i), Fig. 4f] The degree of diffusivity \Phi_B is introduced but not defined or used; either define it or remove it.
  6. [Sec. 3(b)] Typo: 'most of the the results' should be 'most of the results'.
  7. [References] Reference [1] formatting: 'Copernicus Browserhttps://...' is missing a space.

Circularity Check

0 steps flagged · score 1.0 of 10

No significant circularity: the paper's maps are openly empirical organizers, the derived timescale is an independent scaling, and the dense self-citations do not amount to a derivation loop.

full rationale

The manuscript is primarily a review. Its central claim (that interactions depend basically on Shields and Stokes numbers, transverse position, and size ratio) is a synthesis proposal, not a derivation. The barchan-barchan classification maps (Sec. 3(a), Fig. 4) are explicitly stated to be 'ad hoc', are empirical fits to the authors' experiments, and are partially corroborated by independent studies (He et al., Lin et al.); they are not presented as derived from the dimensionless parameters. The barchan-obstacle map (Sec. 4, Fig. 7e) is likewise called an 'ad hoc classification map', and the paper itself calls for 'systematic field-based validation of predictive maps derived from subaqueous experiments' in Sec. 5, so the lack of independent testing is explicitly flagged rather than hidden. The only quantitative derivation is the collision timescale Eq. 3.3, obtained by inserting the independently published Franklin-Charru celerity law into the definition t_s = Δx_d/ΔV_d; dividing measured durations by t_s gives values spanning 0.04–2, which is a test of the scaling rather than a fit to the collision durations. No equation is defined in terms of the quantity it is used to predict, and no fitted parameter is renamed as a prediction. The high density of self-citations in the obstacle section is a citation-practice concern, but it is not circular by construction.

Assumptions & free parameters 3 free parameters · 3 assumptions · 0 invented entities

The review's framework rests on three classes of input: (i) prior empirical scaling laws (L_sat, celerity relation), (ii) the authors' own ad hoc classification maps, and (iii) the transferability assumption from subaqueous to aeolian. No new entities or first-principles derivations are added.

free parameters (3)
  • Classification-map boundaries (θ–ξ_N and H_obst/W vs St·H_obst/W_obst) = ad hoc boundaries (not tabulated)
    The maps in Figs. 4 and 7e were drawn by hand to organize experimental outcomes; their boundary positions are not derived from theory and were fitted to the authors' own data.
  • Collision timescale normalization t_s = normalized duration 0.04–2
    Eq. 3.3 uses the celerity relation of Franklin & Charru [43], an empirical fit; the normalization does not collapse data tightly (spread 0.04–2), indicating an empirical scaling rather than a derived law.
  • Proportionality ξ in L_sat = ξ L_drag = unspecified
    Used in Eq. 1.1 for context; ξ is an empirical proportionality constant from prior literature (Andreotti et al. 2002). Not central to the review's proposal but an assumed constant.
assumptions (3)
  • domain assumption Barchans in aeolian and subaqueous environments are dynamically similar via the saturation-length scaling (Eqs. 1.1–1.2).
    The review uses this to justify transferring subaqueous results to aeolian dunes; adopted from Claudin & Andreotti 2006 and Hersen et al. 2002.
  • domain assumption Subaqueous grain-scale experiments and CFD-DEM simulations are representative of barchan interaction mechanisms in aeolian settings despite different transport modes.
    This is the load-bearing extrapolation; the paper itself cautions that grains in water follow fluid pathlines while aeolian grains saltate ballistically (Section 4(a)).
  • ad hoc to paper The modified Stokes grouping St·H_obst/W_obst (Eq. 4.1) is the proper dimensionless control for obstacle interactions.
    Introduced by Assis et al. [11]; the review presents the resulting map as predictive, but the grouping is a choice that organizes the authors' data, not a derived invariant.

how reviews work

0 comments
Cite this review

Pith. "Pith review of Barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions: insights from grain-scale studies." pith.science (2026). https://pith.science/paper/INHEXN4M

@misc{pith2026260720672,
  author       = {Pith},
  title        = {Pith review of: Barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions: insights from grain-scale studies},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://pith.science/paper/INHEXN4M}},
  note         = {Machine review of arXiv:2607.20672}
}
read the original abstract

Sand dunes are bedforms that grow due to the action of a fluid flow over a sand bed or pile. Whenever the fluid flow is mainly in one direction and the availability of sand is limited, crescent-shaped dunes known as barchans appear. These dunes are a strong attractor, being found on Earth, Mars, and other celestial bodies, usually in dune fields where they interact with each other, the terrain, and dune-size obstacles. In this review, we discuss the processes and outcomes of the different barchan-barchan and barchan-obstacle interactions, based on grain-scale subaqueous experiments and numerical simulations. We propose that those interactions depend basically on the Shields and Stokes numbers (that are two dimensionless parameters), the transverse position of bedforms, and the size ratio between the interacting objects. In addition, we show in detail the fluid flow, the trajectories of grains, and the resultant force acting on each grain, explaining the mechanisms for the different behaviors observed. Finally, we discuss the implications for the aeolian case, and put into perspective the current findings.

Figures

Figures reproduced from arXiv: 2607.20672 by the authors.

Figure 1
Figure 1. Experimental setups used in investigations of dune-dune or dune-obstacle interactions: (a) Hersen et al. [55] (reprinted with permission, Hersen et al. [55], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.264301); (b) Bacik et al. [19] (reprinted with permission, Bacik et al. [19], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.054501); (c) Assis et al. [11] (figure extracted from Assis et al. [11], https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL1… view at source ↗
Figure 2
Figure 2. Numerical setups used in investigations of dune-dune or dune-obstacle interactions: (a) Continuous model used in Duran et al. [33] (reprinted with permission, Duran et al. [33], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.72.021308). (b) Agent￾based model used in Génois et al. [47] (reprinted with permission, Génois et al. [47], https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50757, 2013). (c) Cellular automaton model of Zhang et al. [99] (reprin… view at source ↗
Figure 3
Figure 3. (a-e) Snapshots (top view) of barchan-barchan interactions for aligned dunes, from experiments with monodisperse particles (one peaked distribution). In the snapshots, the water flow is from left to right, the upstream pile consists of red glass beads and the downstream pile of white glass beads, and the corresponding times are shown in each frame. (a) merging; (b) exchange; (c) fragmentation-exchange; (d) fragmenta… view at source ↗
Figures from the paper (4 more)
Figure 4
Figure 4. Figure 4: (a-b) Patterns of barchan-barchan interactions as functions of ξN and θ for (a) aligned and (b) off-centered barchans. Stars, diamonds, circles, squares and triangles correspond to chasing, merging, exchange, fragmentation￾chasing and fragmentation-exchange, respective…
Figure 5
Figure 5. Figure 5: (a) Snapshots showing the grains of each dune (top view) at different instants, colored in accordance with the average mass flow rate m˙ of the region they are in. The averages are computed in intervals t1 to t5 (t1 = 10–50 s, t2 = 51–100 s, t3 = 101–150 s, t4 = 151–20…
Figure 6
Figure 6. Figure 6: (a) Snapshots with remote-sensing photographs (26◦52’ S, 15◦20’ E) showing two dunes under an off-centered exchange process. In the images, the wind blows from left to right, and the dates (year.month) are indicated in each panel. Figure extracted from Zhang et al. [10…
Figure 7
Figure 7. Figure 7: Snapshots from experiments of a barchan dune interacting with an obstacle, for different size ratios and shapes. In the snapshots, the water flow is from left to right, and the corresponding times are shown in each frame. (a) Cylinder with Hobst/W = 0.05, for which the…

Discussion (0). Continue with ORCID to comment.

Reference graph

Works this paper leans on

101 extracted references

  1. [11]

    W. R. Assis, D. S. Borges, and E. M. Franklin. Barchan dunes cruising dune-size obstacles. Geophys. Res. Lett., 50(14):e2023GL104125, 2023

    2023

  2. [70]

    N. C. Lima, W. R. Assis, D. S. Borges, and E. M. Franklin. Barchans interacting with dune-size obstacles: Details of the fluid flow and motion of grains. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 130(6):e2025JF008504, 2025

    2025

  3. [1]

    Copernicus Browserhttps://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu/

    Copernicus eu. Copernicus Browserhttps://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu/

  4. [2]

    C. A. Alvarez, F. D. Cúñez, and E. M. Franklin. Growth of barchan dunes of bidispersed granular mixtures. Phys. Fluids, 33(5):051705, 2021

    2021

  5. [3]

    Alvarez and Erick M

    Carlos A. Alvarez and Erick M. Franklin. Birth of a subaqueous barchan dune. Phys. Rev. E, 96:062906, Dec 2017

    2017

  6. [4]

    Alvarez and Erick M

    Carlos A. Alvarez and Erick M. Franklin. Role of transverse displacements in the formation of subaqueous barchan dunes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 121:164503, Oct 2018

    2018

  7. [5]

    Alvarez and Erick M

    Carlos A. Alvarez and Erick M. Franklin. Horns of subaqueous barchan dunes: A study at the grain scale. Phys. Rev. E, 100:042904, Oct 2019

    2019

  8. [6]

    Alvarez and Erick M

    Carlos A. Alvarez and Erick M. Franklin. Shape evolution of numerically obtained subaqueous barchan dunes. Phys. Rev. E, 101:012905, Jan 2020

    2020

Show all 101 references
  1. [7]

    Alvarez and Erick M

    Carlos A. Alvarez and Erick M. Franklin. Force distribution within a barchan dune. Phys. Fluids, 33(1):013313, 2021

    2021

  2. [8]

    Landscape structural analysis of the lençóis maranhenses national park: implications for conservation

    Yuri Teixeira Amaral, Edyane Moraes dos Santos, Milton Cézar Ribeiro, and Larissa Barreto. Landscape structural analysis of the lençóis maranhenses national park: implications for conservation. J. Nat. Conserv., 51:125725, 2019

    2019

  3. [9]

    Andreotti, P

    B. Andreotti, P . Claudin, and S. Douady. Selection of dune shapes and velocities. part 1: Dynamics of sand, wind and barchans. Eur. Phys. J. B, 28:321–329, 2002

    2002

  4. [10]

    Andreotti, Y

    B. Andreotti, Y. Forterre, and O. Pouliquen. Granular Flow: Between Fluid and Solid. Cambridge University Press, 2013

    2013

  5. [12]

    W. R. Assis, F. D. Cúñez, and E. M. Franklin. Revealing the intricate dune-dune interactions of bidisperse barchans. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 127(5):e2021JF006588, 2022

    2022

  6. [13]

    W. R. Assis and E. M. Franklin. A comprehensive picture for binary interactions of subaqueous barchans. Geophys. Res. Lett., 47(18):e2020GL089464, 2020

    2020

  7. [14]

    W. R. Assis and E. M. Franklin. Morphodynamics of barchan-barchan interactions investigated at the grain scale. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 126(8):e2021JF006237, 2021

    2021

  8. [15]

    W. R. Assis, E. M. Franklin, and N. M. Vriend. Evolving dunes under flow reversals: From an initial heap toward an inverted dune. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 130(2):e2024JF007779, 2025

    2025

  9. [16]

    M. A. Azzaoui, L. Masmoudi, H. El Belrhiti, and I. E. Chaouki. Barchan sand dunes collisions detection in high resolution satellite images based on image clustering and transfer learning. Int. J. Adv. Comput. Sci. Appl., 11(1), 2020

    2020

  10. [17]

    Bacik, Priscilla Canizares, Colm-cille P

    Karol A. Bacik, Priscilla Canizares, Colm-cille P . Caulfield, Michael J. Williams, and Nathalie M. Vriend. Dynamics of migrating sand dunes interacting with obstacles. Phys. Rev. Fluids, 6:104308, Oct 2021

    2021

  11. [18]

    Bacik, Colm-cille P

    Karol A. Bacik, Colm-cille P . Caulfield, and Nathalie M. Vriend. Stability of the interaction between two sand dunes in an idealized laboratory experiment. Phys. Rev. Lett., 127:154501, Oct 2021. 21royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsta Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 0000000

    2021

  12. [19]

    Bacik, Sean Lovett, Colm-cille P

    Karol A. Bacik, Sean Lovett, Colm-cille P . Caulfield, and Nathalie M. Vriend. Wake induced long range repulsion of aqueous dunes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 124:054501, Feb 2020

    2020

  13. [20]

    R. A. Bagnold. The movement of desert sand. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A, 157:594–620, 1936

    1936

  14. [21]

    R. A. Bagnold. The Physics of Blown Sand and Desert Dunes. Chapman and Hall, London, 1941

    1941

  15. [22]

    R. A. Bagnold. The flow of cohesionless grains in fluids. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. A, 249:235–297, 1956

    1956

  16. [23]

    S. E. Belcher and J. C. R. Hunt. Turbulent flow over hills and waves. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 30:507–538, 1998

    1998

  17. [24]

    Mary C. Bourke. Barchan dune asymmetry: Observations from Mars and Earth. Icarus, 205(1):183 – 197, 2010

    2010

  18. [25]

    Breed, Maurice J

    Carol S. Breed, Maurice J. Grolier, and John F. McCauley. Morphology and distribution of common ‘sand’ dunes on Mars: Comparison with the Earth. J. Geophys. Res.: Sol. Earth, 84(B14):8183–8204, 1979

    1979

  19. [26]

    Vaz, Timothy Michaels, Mary C

    Marco Cardinale, Simone Silvestro, David A. Vaz, Timothy Michaels, Mary C. Bourke, Goro Komatsu, and Lucia Marinangeli. Present-day aeolian activity in Herschel Crater, Mars. Icarus, 265:139–148, 2016

    2016

  20. [27]

    Charru, H

    F. Charru, H. Mouilleron-Arnould, and O. Eiff. Erosion and deposition of particles on a bed sheared by a viscous flow. J. Fluid Mech., 519:55–80, 2004

    2004

  21. [28]

    Sand ripples and dunes

    François Charru, Bruno Andreotti, and Philippe Claudin. Sand ripples and dunes. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 45(1):469–493, 2013

    2013

  22. [29]

    Claudin and B

    P . Claudin and B. Andreotti. A scaling law for aeolian dunes on Mars, Venus, Earth, and for subaqueous ripples. Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 252:20–44, 2006

    2006

  23. [30]

    Courrech du Pont

    S. Courrech du Pont. Dune morphodynamics. C. R. Phys., 16(1):118 – 138, 2015

    2015

  24. [31]

    Rubin, Clément Narteau, Mathieu G.A

    Sylvain Courrech du Pont, David M. Rubin, Clément Narteau, Mathieu G.A. Lapôtre, Mackenzie Day, Philippe Claudin, Ian Livingstone, Matt W. Telfer, Jani Radebaugh, Cyril Gadal, Andrew Gunn, Patrick A. Hesp, Sabrina Carpy, Charles S. Bristow, Andreas C.W. Baas, Ryan C. Ewing, an...

    2024

  25. [32]

    Daudon, M

    C. Daudon, M. Beyers, D. Jackson, and J.P . Avouac. Prediction of barchan dunes migration using climatic models and speed-up effect of dune topography on air flow. Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 648:119049, 2024

    2024

  26. [33]

    Durán, V

    O. Durán, V . Schwämmle, and H. Herrmann. Breeding and solitary wave behavior of dunes. Phys. Rev. E, 72:021308, Aug 2005

    2005

  27. [34]

    Durán, V

    O. Durán, V . Schwämmle, P . G. Lind, and H. J. Herrmann. Size distribution and structure of barchan dune fields. Nonlinear Process. Geophys., 18(4):455–467, 2011

    2011

  28. [35]

    Elbelrhiti, B

    H. Elbelrhiti, B. Andreotti, and P . Claudin. Barchan dune corridors: Field characterization and investigation of control parameters. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 113(F2), 2008

    2008

  29. [36]

    Elbelrhiti, P

    H. Elbelrhiti, P . Claudin, and B. Andreotti. 22royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsta Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 0000000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Field evide...

    2005

  30. [37]

    Observation of the whole process of interaction between barchans by flume experiments

    Noritaka Endo, Keisuke Taniguchi, and Atsunari Katsuki. Observation of the whole process of interaction between barchans by flume experiments. Geophys. Res. Lett., 31(12), 2004

    2004

  31. [38]

    Ewing, Aymeric-Pierre B

    Ryan C. Ewing, Aymeric-Pierre B. Peyret, Gary Kocurek, and Mary Bourke. Dune field pattern formation and recent transporting winds in the olympia undae dune field, north polar region of Mars. J. Geophys. Res.-Planet, 115(E8), 2010

    2010

  32. [39]

    Feagin, Douglas J

    Rusty A. Feagin, Douglas J. Sherman, and William E. Grant. Coastal erosion, global sea-level rise, and the loss of sand dune plant habitats. Front. Ecol. Environ., 3(7):359–364, 2005

    2005

  33. [40]

    Feldman, M.C

    W.C. Feldman, M.C. Bourke, R.C. Elphic, S. Maurice, J. Bandfield, T.H. Prettyman, B. Diez, and D.J. Lawrence. Hydrogen content of sand dunes within Olympia Undae. Icarus, 196(2):422–432, 2008

    2008

  34. [41]

    The barchans of southern peru

    Herman J Finkel. The barchans of southern peru. J. Geol., 67(6):614–647, 1959

    1959

  35. [42]

    E. M. Franklin and F. Charru. Morphology and displacement of dunes in a closed-conduit flow. Powder Technology, 190:247–251, 2009

    2009

  36. [43]

    E. M. Franklin and F. Charru. Subaqueous barchan dunes in turbulent shear flow. Part 1. Dune motion. J. Fluid Mech., 675:199–222, 2011

    2011

  37. [44]

    E. M. Franklin, F. T. Figueiredo, and E. S. Rosa. The feedback effect caused by bed load on a turbulent liquid flow. J. Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng., 36:725–736, 2014

    2014

  38. [45]

    Observations regarding the movement of barchan sand dunes in the nazca to tanaca area of southern peru

    S Parker Gay. Observations regarding the movement of barchan sand dunes in the nazca to tanaca area of southern peru. Geomorphology, 27(3):279 – 293, 1999

    1999

  39. [46]

    Génois, P

    M. Génois, P . Hersen, S.C. du Pont, and G. Grégoire. Spatial structuring and size selection as collective behaviours in an agent-based model for barchan fields. Eur. Phys. J. B, 86(447), 2013

    2013

  40. [47]

    An agent-based model of dune interactions produces the emergence of patterns in deserts

    Mathieu Génois, Sylvain Courrech du Pont, Pascal Hersen, and Guillaume Grégoire. An agent-based model of dune interactions produces the emergence of patterns in deserts. Geophys. Res. Lett., 40(15):3909–3914, 2013

    2013

  41. [48]

    Hansen, S

    C.J. Hansen, S. Byrne, G. Portyankina, M. Bourke, C. Dundas, A. McEwen, M. Mellon, A. Pommerol, and N. Thomas. Observations of the northern seasonal polar cap on Mars: I. Spring sublimation activity and processes. Icarus, 225(2):881–897, 2013

    2013

  42. [49]

    Early Explorers, pages 51–137

    Brian Harvey. Early Explorers, pages 51–137. Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2018

    2018

  43. [50]

    Approximate uniformity of the size distribution in the crescent-shaped dune swarm: A downsized experimental reinvestigation

    Nan He, Yuanwei Lin, Yang Zhang, and Bin Yang. Approximate uniformity of the size distribution in the crescent-shaped dune swarm: A downsized experimental reinvestigation. AIP Advances, 12(3):035102, 2022

    2022

  44. [51]

    Self-stabilization of barchan dune chasing

    Nan He, Yuanwei Lin, Yang Zhang, Bin Yang, and Xin Gao. Self-stabilization of barchan dune chasing. Phys. Fluids, 35(10):106609, 2023

    2023

  45. [52]

    H. J. Herrmann and G. Sauermann. The shape of dunes. Physica A (Amsterdam), 283:24–30, 2000

    2000

  46. [53]

    P . Hersen. 23royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsta Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 0000000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morphogen`se et dynamique des barchanes. PhD ...

    2004

  47. [54]

    Hersen, K

    P . Hersen, K. H. Andersen, H. Elbelrhiti, B. Andreotti, P . Claudin, and S. Douady. Corridors of barchan dunes: Stability and size selection. Phys. Rev. E, 69:011304, Jan 2004

    2004

  48. [55]

    Relevant length scale of barchan dunes

    Pascal Hersen, Stéphane Douady, and Bruno Andreotti. Relevant length scale of barchan dunes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 89:264301, Dec 2002

    2002

  49. [56]

    Collision of barchan dunes as a mechanism of size regulation

    Pascal Hersen and Stéphane Douady. Collision of barchan dunes as a mechanism of size regulation. Geophys. Res. Lett., 32(21), 2005

    2005

  50. [57]

    Hugenholtz and Thomas E

    Chris H. Hugenholtz and Thomas E. Barchyn. Real barchan dune collisions and ejections. Geophys. Res. Lett., 39(2), 2012

    2012

  51. [58]

    J. C. R. Hunt, S. Leibovich, and K. J. Richards. Turbulent shear flows over low hills. Quart. J. R. Met. Soc., 114:1435–1470, 1988

    1988

  52. [59]

    P . S. Jackson and J. C. R. Hunt. Turbulent wind flow over a low hill. Quart. J. R. Met. Soc., 101:929–955, 1975

    1975

  53. [60]

    P . A. Jarvis, C. Narteau, O. Rozier, and N. M. Vriend. The probabilistic nature of dune collisions in 2d. Earth Surface Dynamics, 11(4):803–815, 2023

    2023

  54. [61]

    Experimental study on local scour protection and contact pressure of the facing water surface at the pier based on the guide pillar

    Xiaobo Jia, Xianyou Mou, and Honglan Ji. Experimental study on local scour protection and contact pressure of the facing water surface at the pier based on the guide pillar. Ocean Engineering, 302:117670, 2024

    2024

  55. [62]

    Characterizing barchan dune interactions based on high-resolution remote sensing imagery

    Ning Jiang, Li Jiang, Xintong Wu, Dazhi Wang, and Hong Cheng. Characterizing barchan dune interactions based on high-resolution remote sensing imagery. Geomorphology, 473:109608, 2025

    2025

  56. [63]

    On the genesis and evolution of barchan dunes: morphodynamics

    A Khosronejad and F Sotiropoulos. On the genesis and evolution of barchan dunes: morphodynamics. J. Fluid Mech., 815:117–148, 2017

    2017

  57. [64]

    Ewing, and David Mohrig

    Gary Kocurek, Ryan C. Ewing, and David Mohrig. How do bedform patterns arise? new views on the role of bedform interactions within a set of boundary conditions. Earth Surf. Process. Landforms, 35(1):51–63, 2010

    2010

  58. [65]

    K. Kroy, S. Fischer, and B. Obermayer. The shape of barchan dunes. J. Phys. Condens. Matter, 17:S1229–0S1235, 2005

    2005

  59. [66]

    Herrmann

    Klaus Kroy, Gerd Sauermann, and Hans J. Herrmann. Minimal model for aeolian sand dunes. Phys. Rev. E, 66:031302, Sep 2002

    2002

  60. [67]

    Herrmann

    Klaus Kroy, Gerd Sauermann, and Hans J. Herrmann. Minimal model for sand dunes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 88:054301, Jan 2002

    2002

  61. [68]

    N. C. Lima, W. R. Assis, C. A. Alvarez, and E. M. Franklin. Grain-scale computations of barchan dunes. Phys. Fluids, 34(12):123320, 2022

    2022

  62. [69]

    N. C. Lima, W. R. Assis, C. A. Alvarez, and E. M. Franklin. Barchan-barchan dune repulsion investigated at the grain scale. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 129(8):e2024JF007741, 2024

    2024

  63. [71]

    The impact of inter-dune space and volume ratio on barchan dune collision patterns: A numerical simulation study

    Yuanwei Lin, Kaiyuan Guan, Yang Zhang, Xin Gao, Bin Yang, and Nan He. The impact of inter-dune space and volume ratio on barchan dune collision patterns: A numerical simulation study. Phys. Fluids, 36(1):011703, 2024. 24royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsta Phil. Trans. R. S...

    2024

  64. [72]

    Ian Livingstone, Giles F. S. Wiggs, and Matthew Baddock. Barchan dunes: why they cannot be treated as ‘solitons’ or ‘solitary waves’. Earth Surf. Process. Landf., 30(2):255–257, 2005

    2005

  65. [73]

    Jackson, Thomas A.G

    Richard Love, Derek W.T. Jackson, Thomas A.G. Smyth, Andrew Cooper, Timothy Michaels, and Jean-Philippe Avouac. Surface airflow patterns at a barchan dune field in Hellespontus Montes, Mars. Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 667:119536, 2025

    2025

  66. [74]

    Luisa Martínez, Patrick A

    M. Luisa Martínez, Patrick A. Hesp, and Juan B. Gallego-Fernández. Coastal Dunes: Human Impact and Need for Restoration, pages 1–14. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013

    2013

  67. [75]

    Algodones Dunes of Southeastern California

    Robert M Norris and Kenneth S Norris. Algodones Dunes of Southeastern California. GSA Bulletin, 72(4):605–619, 1961

    1961

  68. [76]

    Eric J. R. Parteli, Orencio Durán, Mary C Bourke, Haim Tsoar, Thorsten Pöschel, and Hans Herrmann. Origins of barchan dune asymmetry: Insights from numerical simulations. Aeol. Res., 12:121–133, 2014

    2014

  69. [77]

    Eric J. R. Parteli and Hans J. Herrmann. Dune formation on the present mars. Phys. Rev. E, 76:041307, Oct 2007

    2007

  70. [78]

    Pommerol, T

    A. Pommerol, T. Appéré, G. Portyankina, K.-M. Aye, N. Thomas, and C.J. Hansen. Observations of the northern seasonal polar cap on Mars iii: CRISM/HiRISE observations of spring sublimation. Icarus, 225(2):911–922, 2013

    2013

  71. [79]

    Aeolian Sand and Sand Dunes

    Kenneth Pye and Haim Tsoar. Aeolian Sand and Sand Dunes. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2009

    2009

  72. [80]

    Windblown sand action on civil structures: Definition and probabilistic modelling

    Lorenzo Raffaele and Luca Bruno. Windblown sand action on civil structures: Definition and probabilistic modelling. Eng. Struct., 178:88–101, 2019

    2019

  73. [81]

    A. J. Raudkivi. Loose boundary hydraulics. Pergamon Press, 1 edition, 1976

    1976

  74. [82]

    Roback, K.D

    K.P . Roback, K.D. Runyon, and J.P . Avouac. Craters as sand traps: Dynamics, history, and morphology of modern sand transport in an active martian dune field. Icarus, 342:113642, 2020. Current and Recent Landscape Evolution on Mars

    2020

  75. [83]

    D. T. Robson and A. C. W. Baas. Barchan swarm dynamics from a two-flank agent-based model. Earth Surf. Dyn., 12(5):1205–1226, 2024

    2024

  76. [84]

    Robson and Andreas C

    Dominic T. Robson and Andreas C. W. Baas. A simple agent-based model that reproduces all types of barchan interactions. Geophys. Res. Lett., 50(19):e2023GL105182, 2023

    2023

  77. [85]

    Hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes in the modern rion strait (greece): Interplay between tidal currents and internal tides

    Romain Rubi, Aurélia Hubert-Ferrari, Elias Fakiris, Dimitris Christodoulou, Xenophon Dimas, Maria Geraga, George Papatheodorou, and Basile Caterina. Hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes in the modern rion strait (greece): Interplay between tidal currents and internal tides....

    2022

  78. [86]

    Herrmann

    Gerd Sauermann, Klaus Kroy, and Hans J. Herrmann. Continuum saltation model for sand dunes. Phys. Rev. E, 64:031305, Aug 2001

    2001

  79. [87]

    Edgett, Eric J

    Volker Schatz, Haim Tsoar, Kenneth S. Edgett, Eric J. R. Parteli, and Hans J. Herrmann. Evidence for indurated sand dunes in the martian north polar region. J. Geopys. Res-Planet, 111(E4), 2006

    2006

  80. [88]

    Schlichting

    H. Schlichting. Boundary-Layer Theory. Springer, New York, 2000. 25royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsta Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 0000000

    2000

  81. [89]

    Schwämmle and H

    V . Schwämmle and H. J. Herrmann. Solitary wave behaviour of sand dunes. Nature, 426:619–620, 2003

    2003

  82. [90]

    Schwämmle and H

    V . Schwämmle and H. J. Herrmann. A model of barchan dunes including lateral shear stress. Eur. Phys. J. E, 16(1):57–65, 2005

    2005

  83. [91]

    Anna Urso, Matthew Chojnacki, and David A. Vaz. Dune-yardang interactions in Becquerel Crater, Mars. J. Geophys. Res.: Planets, 123(2):353–368, 2018

    2018

  84. [92]

    L. C. van Rijn. Sediment transport, part 1: Bed load transport. J. Hydraul. Eng., 110(10):1431–1456, 1984

    1984

  85. [93]

    Vermeesch

    P . Vermeesch. Solitary wave behavior in sand dunes observed from space. Geophys. Res. Lett., 38(22), 2011

    2011

  86. [94]

    Vriend and Karol A

    Nathalie M. Vriend and Karol A. Bacik. The dynamics of sand dunes. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech., 58(Volume 58, 2026):55–81, 2026

    2026

  87. [95]

    W. S. Weng, J. C. R. Hunt, D. J. Carruthers, A. Warren, G. F. S. Wiggs, I. Livingstone, and I. Castro. Air flow and sand transport over sand-dunes. Acta Mechanica, pages 1–21, 1991

    1991

  88. [96]

    Worman, A

    Stacey L. Worman, A. Brad Murray, Ryan Littlewood, Bruno Andreotti, and Philippe Claudin. Modeling emergent large-scale structures of barchan dune fields. Geology, 41(10):1059–1062, 10 2013

    2013

  89. [97]

    M. S. Yalin. Mechanics of sediment transport. Pergamon Press, 1 edition, 1977

    1977

  90. [98]

    M. S. Yalin and E. Karahan. Inception of sediment transport. J. Hydraul. Div., HY11:1433–1443, 1979

    1979

  91. [99]

    Zhang, C

    D. Zhang, C. Narteau, and O. Rozier. Morphodynamics of barchan and transverse dunes using a cellular automaton model. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 115(F3), 2010

    2010

  92. [100]

    Local similarity between aeolian barchan dunes and their downsized subaqueous counterparts

    Yang Zhang, Yuanwei Lin, Nan He, Xin Gao, and Bin Yang. Local similarity between aeolian barchan dunes and their downsized subaqueous counterparts. J. Geophys. Res.: Earth Surf., 129(5):e2023JF007617, 2024

    2024

  93. [101]

    Development of a 30 m resolution global sand dune/sheet classification map (gsds30) using multi-source remote sensing data

    Zhijia Zheng, Jinsongdi Yu, Xiuyuan Zhang, and Shihong Du. Development of a 30 m resolution global sand dune/sheet classification map (gsds30) using multi-source remote sensing data. Remote Sens. Environ., 302:113973, 2024

    2024

Pith tools

Reviewed August 1, 2026 · model on record in the stance chip above.