Collisions of quartz grains with a sand bed: The influence of incident angle

• Published in: Earth surface processes and landforms 1989-12, Vol.14 (8), p.719-730
• Main Authors: Willetts, B. B., Rice, M. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aeolian processes; Bgi / Prodig; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geomorphology; Geomorphology, landform evolution; High-speed photography; Physical geography; Ripples; Rocks and sediments; Surficial geology
• ISSN: 0197-9337; 1096-9837
• DOI: 10.1002/esp.3290140806

The velocities with which grains were observed to emerge from a sand bed after an intersaltation collision at u* = 40 cm s−1 are reported for four bed attitudes, from horizontal bed to adverse bed slope 15°. The principal effect of bed angle is to alter the magnitude and direction of the ricochet velocity. However, emergent velocities of dislodged grains are consistent with reptation path lengths comparable to the length of the upwind face of ripples in the corresponding wind. Calculations of the loss of forward momentum at collision, using the data for the range of bed attitudes studied suggest that creep is most vigorous on the sloping upwind face of the ripple and diminishes at the crest. As a result, the crest would be expected to accumulate the coarse material which moves predominantly by creep. The saltations originating in ricochet from the sloping back of the ripple are more vigorous and more concentrated in plan than are those originating at the crest. However, the saltation path length is at least an order of magnitude greater than the ripple wavelength and the probability distribution of path lengths is quite dispersed. Consequently it is very unlikely that these spatial patterns of ricochet are preserved sufficiently distinctly in the saltation cloud and subsequent collision distribution to be the agent of ripple development. This study therefore supports a view of moving grain interaction with the bed in which saltation provides the power to mobilize grains but ripple growth is associated with reptation and particularly with a pattern of impact which develops with the bed relief. Creep is more active on upwind facing slopes than at the crest, which therefore is a zone of net creep grain deposition.