Surface waves in aeolian bedforms

Nature repeat the stripe pattern in aeolian bedform twice, one is sand ripples, the other is linear dunes. Being stripes, these two share many common features, e.g., the whole appearance, the processes of development from a homogeneous state, and the decorated defects. By computer simulations using coupled map lattices, the universal mechanism being at work behind the similarities is revealed. Furthermore, the pattern selection at distinct scales of ripples and linear dunes is discussed. So the results of ripple scale experiments may be used to infer dune scale property.