Research in the Azores finds a discrepancy between field observations of sediment transport and predictions made with commonly used mathematical formulas.
sand
Planetary Dunes Tell of Otherworldly Winds
On Earth and throughout our solar system, ripples and dunes in sand and dust offer insights into how winds blow, liquid currents flow, and solid particles fly and bounce over the terrain.
Satellites Spy on Sand Mining in the Mekong
Concrete, used in everything from streets to skyscrapers, needs sand, often mined from active rivers in developing countries with little oversight. Researchers can now use satellites to keep watch.
Dunes Dance to a New Rhythm in Climate Change
Dunes may morph or creep in new directions in a warming world.
Megaripples on Mars—How to Name Wind-Shaped Features on the Red Planet
New research suggests a more settled terminology for Martian aeolian landforms based on size and geomorphology.
Earth’s Continents Share an Ancient Crustal Ancestor
How did today’s continents come to be? Geological sleuths found clues in grains of sand.
Megaripple Migration Offers Insights into Martian Atmosphere
The movement of large sand ripples, documented for the first time, suggests Mars is windier than we thought.
To Protect the World’s Sand, We Need to Know How to Measure It
New research provides a more accurate model that coastal managers and engineers can use to account for sand transport over time.
Microbial Mechanisms Change with the Seasons
Microbes living in the sand on a barrier island alter the way they break down organic matter as their environment changes throughout the year, which has implications for the surrounding water column.
Shells Sound Out Sand’s Acoustic Signatures
Shell remains give sand from different locations unique acoustic signatures.