The adaptation of dunes to changes in river flow

Analysis of dune deformation through examination of the residuals of cross-correlations between successive dune profiles illustrates that local sources and sinks of sediment exist within mobile dune fields. These findings highlight that dune adaptation to changes in flow is a dynamic response involving multiple interconnected dunes. The redistribution of sediment that is required for dunes to change shape and adapt to new conditions is expected to be an important cause of variability in sediment transport. These detailed analyses and findings provide a foundation for further study of dune dynamics in different environments on Earth as well as other planetary bodies.