It’s well known that sand dunes move around and that smaller dunes move faster than larger ones, said Nathalie Vriend, the paper’s senior author from Cambridge University’s BP Institute for Multiphase Flow. But that’s a consequence of the movement, and it’s the energy from the wind or water flow creating the disturbance. ADOn a warming planet, understanding how sand dunes move could become even more important for understanding their impact on dry climates. Vriend said climate-fueled desertification and an increased prevalence of sand dunes can harm roads and infrastructure. She recalled reading about creeping sand dunes in Nouakchott, Mauritania, where “parts of the city were engulfed by sand dunes — that’s impacting people directly, destroying their livelihoods."

Source: Washington Post February 05, 2020 12:04 UTC