| Abstract: | Dunes with relatively long and parallel crests are classified as linear dunes. On Earth, they form in at least two environmental settings: where winds of bimodal direction blow across loose sand, and also where single-direction winds blow over sediment that is locally stabilized, be it through vegetation, sediment cohesion or topographic shelter from the winds. Linear dunes have also been identified on Titan, where they are thought to form in loose sand. Here we present evidence that in the Qaidam Basin, China, linear dunes are found downwind of transverse dunes owing to higher cohesiveness in the downwind sediments, which contain larger amounts of salt and mud. We also present a compilation of other settings where sediment stabilization has been reported to produce linear dunes. We suggest that in this dune-forming process, loose sediment accumulates on the dunes and is stabilized; the stable dune then functions as a topographic shelter, which induces the deposition of sediments downwind. We conclude that a model in which Titans dunes formed similarly in cohesive sediments cannot be ruled out by the existing data. ?? 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70036923 |
| Citation Author: | Rubin, D. M.; Hesp, P. A. |
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| Citation End Page: | 658 |
| Citation Issue: | 9 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Nature Geoscience |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 6 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Multiple origins of linear dunes on Earth and Titan; 2009; Article; Journal; Nature Geoscience; Rubin, D. M.; Hesp, P. A. |
| Citation Start Page: | 653 |
| Citation Volume: | 2 |
| Citation Year: | 2009 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Multiple origins of linear dunes on Earth and Titan; 2009; Article; Journal; Nature Geoscience; Rubin, D. M.; Hesp, P. A. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo610 |
| Date Other: | Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00 -0600 |
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