We present a model for dune formation that takes saturation transients in the saltation layer into account. We show that these transients introduce a characteristic length scale that is crucial for dune formation and the macroscopic shape of dunes, albeit determined by intrinsic properties of the saltation kinetics. Finally, we demonstrate that our model can explain the scale dependence of the ...

We apply a model for sand dunes to calculate formation of dunes on Mars under the present Martian atmospheric conditions. We find that different dune shapes as those imaged by Mars Global Surveyor could have been formed by the action of sand-moving winds occurring on today's Mars. Our calculations show, however, that Martian dunes could be only formed due to the higher efficiency of Martian win...

In landscape-scale experiments at the edge of Gobi desert, we show that various dune types develop simultaneously under natural wind conditions. Using 4 years high-resolution topographic data, demonstrate that, depending on sand availability, same regime can lead to two different orientations, which reflect independent growth mechanisms. As periodic oblique dunes emerge from a bed and 2 meters ...

A traditional taxonomic approach coupled to a biological traits analysis was conducted in order provide new insight into macrobenthic communities associated with subtidal sandy environments. Results suggest that the macro-scale distribution of benthic is mainly driven by migration rate bedforms (sandbank, barchan dune and transversal dune) which changes sediment grain size reduces diversity. cl...