Modelling wind forced bedforms on a sandy beach

Abstract

This paper aims to conceptually simulate observed spatial and temporal variability in aeolian sediment transport rates, erosion and deposition on a beach. Traditional strategies of modeling aeolian sediment transport rates do not account for supply limitations that are common on natural beaches. A recently developed 1D linear advection model is used in which supply limitations are taken into account in a highly aggregated manner. It is shown that the model is able to simulate the appearance and disappearance of sediment accumulations. However, sediment accumulations alike observed in the field using ARGUS cameras behave on a different time and spatial scales.