Eur. Phys. J. B 28, 321-339 (2002)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2002-00236-4

Selection of dune shapes and velocities. Part 1: Dynamics of sand, wind and barchans

¹ Laboratoire de Physique Statistique de l'École Normale Supérieure, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
² Laboratoire des Milieux Désordonnés et Hétérogènes ((UMR 7603)) , 4 place Jussieu - case 86, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France

Corresponding author: ^a andreott@lps.ens.fr

Received: 22 December 2001
Revised: 31 May 2002
Published online: 31 July 2002

Abstract

Almost fifty years of investigations of barchan dunes morphology and dynamics is reviewed, with emphasis on the physical understanding of these objects. The characteristic quantities measured on the field (shape, size, velocity) and the physical problems they rise are presented. Then, we review the dynamical mechanisms explaining the formation and the propagation of dunes. In particular a complete and original approach of the sand transport over a flat sand bed is proposed and discussed. We conclude on open problems by outlining future research directions.