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A Surface Model for Aeolian Dune Topography

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Abstract

A surface model for aeolian bedform topography is adapted from a surface model of subaqueous bedform topography. The aeolian bedform surface model is developed using a uniform grid with a cell-centered finite volume approximation of the sediment continuity equation. The resulting modeling framework approximates the dynamic motions of aeolian bedform topography driven by bedform field boundary conditions. The numerical model is applied to simulate bedforms growing from unimodal and bimodal transport regimes from both a fixed elevation (sediment source area) and within a domain with fully periodic boundary conditions. The rates at which modeled aeolian bedforms grow and morphologically mature are sensitive to the chosen boundary conditions. Video files of model simulations and source code for the presented aeolian bedform surface modeling framework are available in supplemental materials. The aeolian bedform surface model code is malleable and readily modified for exploratory study of dynamic bedform topography that inherits morphological traits from aeolian bedform field boundary conditions.

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Acknowledgments

Caroline Hern generously provided continuous feedback and conceptual steering for this project. We thank Matthew Wolinsky and Mauricio Perillo for helpful guidance and suggestions concerning code development. The authors are grateful for the thoughts and comments provided by Roussos Dimitrakopoulos and Brad Murray during the revision of this manuscript. Funding for this work was provided by Shell International Exploration & Production Inc. This work does not reflect the views of Shell International Exploration & Production Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2305 Speedway, Stop C1160, Austin, TX, 78712-1692, USA

    Travis Swanson, David Mohrig, Gary Kocurek & Man Liang

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  1. Travis Swanson
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  2. David Mohrig
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  3. Gary Kocurek
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  4. Man Liang
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Correspondence to Travis Swanson.

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Appendix: Fitted Parameters

Appendix: Fitted Parameters

See Table 3.

Table 3 Fit parameters
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Swanson, T., Mohrig, D., Kocurek, G. et al. A Surface Model for Aeolian Dune Topography. Math Geosci 49, 635–655 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11004-016-9654-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11004-016-9654-x

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