Equilibrium versus disequilibrium of barchan dunes
Barchans are crescent dunes which take place in mainly mono-directional winds. Shape, aspect ratios and velocities of these dunes had been studied as if they were in equilibrium, in a stable state. However, following the shape and migrations of 11 barchans of different sizes for 18 months in the field on Moroccan Atlantic Sahara show that they are appear to be in a stationary state only if studied over a long period (at the scale of the year or several years), but are never at equilibrium at the scale of the week or the month. They are rather always trying to reach a possible equilibrium state but never have enough time to reach it. This could be the main reason for the large dispersion observed in previous measurements, and should lead to a caution on what can be deduced from them.
EL BELRHITI Hicham;
DOUADY Stéphane;
2011-01-04
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
JRC57414
0169-555X,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC57414,
10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.10.025,
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