Movements of sand dunes: I. Two-dimensional model

The movements of sand dunes due to wind forces are studied by considering the boundary layer adjacent to the potential flow over the dunes and Exnerian erosion theory. More specifically, dune movements are analysed by considering time-dependent deformations of the sand dune profiles parallel to the wind direction. This assumption eliminates certain complications including those which arise from a three-dimensional treatment. Experience has shown that a two-dimensional model is quite adequate in fairly smooth dune regions.