Initiation and early development of barchan dunes: A case study of the Moroccan Atlantic Sahara desert

This paper describes field measurements that document the formation of barchan dunes in the Moroccan Atlantic Sahara desert. The first mechanism described is the transformation of patches and proto-dunes at Cap Juby beach to barchan dunes of elementary size. This transformation is discussed in relation to the wind speed and saturation length. The second mechanism is the ejection of small barchans of elementary size by other small barchans in response to the perturbation of the target barchan by two other impacting small barchans. This remote initiation is discussed in relation to the bulk flux transported by the barchan dunes involved in this interaction and to their morphology. Other modes of barchan initiation observed in the field are also presented.

► Based on field investigations and aerial photographs.
► We present two mechanisms of initiation and early development of barchans.
► The first one consists of the transformation of patches and proto-dunes to barchans.
► The second is connected with the neighbouring effect or the remote interaction.