Articles tagged with Sand Dunes
A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that California has lost more than 60% of its coastal dune systems, primarily due to human activity. The assessment highlights the importance of preserving these ecosystems for biodiversity and coastal resilience.
Seabirds have a significant impact on plant growth and dune formation on uninhabited islands, with guano providing essential nutrients. The research highlights the importance of protecting seabird habitats to maintain ecosystem balance.
Brazilian researchers have developed a technique that estimates the force exerted on each grain of sand in a dune from images, enabling the study of previously unmeasurable physical processes. The method uses numerical simulations and artificial intelligence to transform the study of granular system dynamics.
A team of researchers has developed a new theory to explain how mini sand dunes form on Earth's surface, including beaches and deserts. They found that sand moves higher and is transported more by the wind when it lands on softer surfaces.
The ARRAKIS project team aims to understand how microbial life thrives in extreme environments by studying the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes in Alaska. Researchers will use Raman spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify and quantify organic compounds and measure ATP and total DNA.
Lauren Berger, a Texas A&M University doctoral student, has been awarded a prestigious FINESST grant from NASA to study Martian dunes. She aims to analyze the shapes and patterns of compound dunes on Mars using high-resolution images, comparing them to similar dunes on Earth.
Humanity's presence on Mars leaves behind a valuable archaeological record, with scientists arguing that it deserves cataloging and preservation. Anthropologist Justin Holcomb advocates for considering the impact of human exploration on Martian sites and planning missions to minimize damage.
Researchers have developed a bioinspired process to make marine sand more durable and resistant to erosion by applying a mild electric current. This natural cement reduces the need for expensive protection structures and provides a sustainable solution for strengthening global coastlines.
Researchers created a simulation model to analyze the impact of coastal management activities on barrier islands' vulnerability to sea-level rise. The model shows that natural processes can create and maintain barriers, but human efforts to protect communities can disrupt these processes.
A new study quantifies the impact of great fossil sites on our understanding of evolutionary relationships between fossil groups, discovering that the Gobi Desert's well-preserved lizard record shapes understanding more than any other site. The study's findings highlight the importance of exceptional fossil preservation in shaping our ...
Vegetation on coastal dunes was found to accelerate erosion during extreme events, contrary to the current understanding that it provides protection. The study found that vegetation creates a physical barrier, decreases wave run-up, and increases water penetration, leading to destabilization and scarp formation.
Researchers at Oregon State University found that newly planted coastal switchgrass on sand dunes can accelerate erosion from extreme waves. The study suggests that vegetation initially creates a physical barrier but also increases water penetration into the sediment bed, leading to destabilization and accelerated scarp formation.
Researchers have found sedimentary archives in sand dunes that can reconstruct reliable, multi-millennial fire histories. The discovery aims to expand scientific understanding of fire regimes around the world and uncover the role of humans on fire history.
Researchers from Brazil and UCLA used computational fluid dynamics/discrete element method to study barchan dune formation, shedding light on grain-scale dynamics. The study enables investigation of forces within dunes and grain motion, paving the way for predicting future dune fields on Earth and Mars.
Researchers at Utah State University found that the formation of K'gari Sand Island and the Great Barrier Reef were linked to major climate feedback changes during the Middle Pleistocene Transition. The team's study suggests that sea-level rise may have initiated the landforms' beginnings around 800,000 years ago.
Research has revealed that Fraser Island's formation was tied to the Middle Pleistocene Transition, a major change in earth's climate. This finding suggests that the island's creation and subsequent prevention of sand transport into the Great Barrier Reef set the conditions for coral growth and reef formation.
A new study found that extreme weather events can mobilize hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of sand into beach systems, potentially offsetting shoreline retreat caused by sea level rise. Researchers used high-resolution measurements and specialized equipment to track sand movement before and after storms.
Scientists have found a new way dunes can form on Io's surface, which is icy and roiling. The researchers used mathematical equations to simulate the forces on a single grain of basalt or frost and calculate its path.
Researchers have discovered that sand dunes in deserts can 'breathe' humid air, allowing microbes to persist deep inside hyper-arid sand dunes. This finding has significant applications in fields such as agriculture, food processing, and pharmaceutical research.
Researchers developed a new model to predict how sand dunes move through landscapes, revealing conditions that determine whether they pass or stop at hurdles. The model shows large obstacles are most effective at halting dune migration, especially ridge-shaped ones like walls.
A new study quantifies landscape changes on barrier islands, revealing that storms can create habitat for coastal species. The research found varying impacts from two hurricanes, Irene and Sandy, which reshaped Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Researchers measure increased vertical translation of dune toe along Holland coast, finding it outpaces sea level rise. The study's findings suggest other locations may experience similar changes due to global warming, highlighting the need for climate change adaptation measures.
Ancient dune fields in Gale crater provide evidence of variable wind directions, shedding light on Mars' climate evolution. The findings suggest that the Martian surface may have been less hospitable to life than previously thought, with a vast expanse of desert sand representing a snapshot of time.
Research reveals that airborne dust plumes are produced by sliding blocks of dry ice each spring, which kick up sand and dust along the way. This process carves and modifies linear gullies on the slopes of a Martian sand dune.
Research on dunes in northern China reveals that neighboring dunes can remain in different states despite similar climate conditions, complicating efforts to stabilize the dunes. The study found that changes are not always smooth and uniform, with some dunes remaining active while others become stabilized by vegetation.
Researchers at University of Cambridge discovered that sand dunes interact with and repel each other as they move, with turbulent swirls controlling the distance between them. The study used a unique experimental facility to observe long-term behavior, challenging existing theories on dune interaction.
A team of planetary scientists found that processes on Mars differ significantly from those on Earth, with large-scale features and differences in landform surface temperature playing key roles. The study reveals that active sand dunes are concentrated in three distinct regions, including Syrtis Major and North Polar Erg.
Scientists have discovered the first Neanderthal footprints in Gibraltar, dated to around 29 thousand years ago. The footprints, along with those of other species, provide significant insight into the wildlife community of the Rock's past.
Moritz Lang and Mikhail Shkonikov from IST Austria have discovered a new property of the Abelian sandpile model, showing that it can exhibit dynamics similar to those of real-world sand dunes. The researchers used a specific method to add sand grains to the model, which induced self-similar fractal patterns reminiscent of the Mandelbro...
A team of scientists has discovered that rocks round up in the same way regardless of their origin, with a common process guiding their shape evolution. By combining mathematical models and laboratory experiments, the researchers found that collisions between particles favor the chipping off of small sediment fragments.
Ecologist Kerri Crawford studies the impact of microbial communities on plant growth in restored sand dunes. Her research aims to develop strategies for promoting plant diversity and stability in these ecosystems.
Researchers aim to learn about changes in Martian-like sand dunes' grain size, chemical composition, and shape. They seek evidence of microbial organisms in similar environments as Earth, which could provide clues about Mars' past habitability.
Research using portable wind tunnel technology found that sand dunes can generate dust through grain collisions and vegetation removal. Coppice dunes, vegetated dunes trapping sand and dust particles, emitted the most dust among all tested sources.
A team of researchers from Caltech and the University of Cambridge discovered that booming and burping sounds emanating from sand dunes are different acoustic phenomena governed by distinct physical principles. The study found that booming sounds originate from linear P-waves, while burping sounds correspond to surface Rayleigh waves.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that rare dune plants, such as Tidestrom's lupine, rely on open sand habitats for germination and survival. Removing beachgrass from coastal dunes can help restore native species by allowing the sand to move and creating more mobile dunes.
A new study by University of Washington astronomer Benjamin Charnay and co-authors proposes that violent methane storms high in Titan's dense atmosphere could be the answer to the moon's eastward-sloping sand dunes. The storms produce strong gusts much faster than Titan's usual winds, dominating sand transport and realigning the dunes.
A new sand-dwelling plant species of the genus Cissampelos has been discovered in Bolivia and Paraguay. The species exhibits unique morphological features, including small leaves and a large endocarp, and is superficially similar to a southern African taxon found in dry habitats.
Researchers from Southwest Research Institute discovered frozen water can melt to form debris flows on Alaskan sand dunes, mirroring Martian 'dark dune spot' seepage flows. These findings provide valuable analogies for understanding Martian processes and their potential impact on future Mars missions.
Researchers investigate calving barchan dunes, stress fields on the West Salton detachment fault, and chemical interaction between peridotite and intruding melts. These studies provide insights into geological processes, such as landscape evolution and global climate models.
A team at Caltech developed a new method to measure sand dune movement on Mars, revealing rates similar to those on Earth. The research provides key data for interpreting the Martian landscape and stratigraphic record.
Researchers have identified a new type of landform on Mars, periodic bedrock ridges, which provide valuable information about the planet's geological past. The ridges, formed by wind erosion of bedrock, offer a unique window into Martian history and potentially allow scientists to study the planet's ancient layers.
A new study published in GSA BULLETIN suggests that linear dunes may have formed through erosion rather than deposition. The research found evidence of erosional origin similar to yardangs in China's Qaidam Basin, which could provide insights into the formation of linear dunes on other planets, such as Saturn's moon Titan.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania uncover unifying mechanism to explain dune patterns in White Sands National Monument, revealing how wind interacts with dunes and impacts vegetation growth. The findings may hold implications for understanding tipping points in dune landscapes under climate change.
Scientists study silicic calderas and crustal structure in the Iberian Peninsula, finding links to tectonic controls. Researchers also analyze eolian dynamics and sediment mixing in the Gran Desierto dune field using thermal infrared spectroscopy and remote-sensing data.
Scientists have found that the sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, contrary to previous assumptions. The changes were caused by seasonal carbon-dioxide ice and stronger-than-expected gusts of wind, resulting in sand avalanches and erosion.
A new species of plant-eating dinosaur, Seitaad ruessi, has been discovered in the Navajo Sandstone of Utah's red rocks. The dinosaur lived around 185 million years ago during the Early Jurassic Period and was part of a group known as sauropodomorphs, which includes giant sauropods with long necks and tails.
Researchers mapped sand dune activity across northern China and found unexpectedly high levels of mobility and change between 8,000 to 11,500 years ago, a time period generally thought to have a wetter climate. The result suggests that common assumptions about the effects of future climate changes may be incorrect.
Deer mice living in Nebraska's Sand Hills rapidly adapted to their environment by evolving lighter coloration, providing better camouflage against visual predators. This genetic change arose from a single mutation in the Agouti gene, driven by natural selection favoring pale coloration.
The study reveals that marshes lost elevation after Hurricane Ike, contrary to expectations. Damage to the coastline sparks debates around public access and private property issues. Researcher Dr. Rusty Feagin's findings highlight the importance of preserving natural processes to mitigate the effects of future storms.
Researchers identified over 1,000 dinosaur tracks at a site in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, providing evidence of wet intervals during the Early Jurassic Period. The site includes rare tail-drag marks, revealing at least four dinosaur species gathered at the watering hole.
Scientists discovered massive sand dunes on Saturn's moon Titan, formed by tidal winds and unique atmospheric conditions. The dunes, similar to those in Namibian Deserts, suggest that Titan's atmosphere can create surface winds powerful enough to sculpt sand.
A new strand of research applies the principle of self-organization to linguistics, suggesting that languages follow a pattern of tendencies rather than universal grammar. The study involves computer simulations where computers develop a common vocabulary and recognize sounds, eventually creating homophones in context.
Researchers identify smaller, bright sand dunes formed of sulfates possibly gypsum, while larger dark dune fields are made of grains eroded from lava flows. The winds on Mars create landforms remarkably similar to those in some deserts on Earth.
A new study reports that ancient dinosaurs were killed by sudden avalanches of water-soaked sand flowing down the sides of dunes, burying their bodies swiftly. The research also uncovered the first dinosaur footprints ever found in the Gobi Desert.