A wind tunnel simulation of the effects of stoss slope on the lee airflow pattern over a two-dimensional transverse dune

Abstract

Secondary airflow plays an important role in dune formation and development. The lee airflow pattern over transverse dunes is important in determining the shape, alignment, and spacing of dunes and is influenced significantly by the lee slope angle. In this paper we present the results of scaled wind tunnel simulations of the effects of stoss slope on the mean lee airflow patterns of transverse dunes. The leeward velocity field was measured nonintrusively using particle image velocimetry to assess the airflow pattern. We found that the flow separated over the dunes with a leeward angle close to the slip face angle of natural transverse dunes and was insensitive to stoss angle. Separation cells were characterized by a back eddy. Reattachment distance, height, area, and aspect ratio were used to characterize the separation cell. The first three parameters increased with increasing stoss angle for angles less than 15° but remained constant or decreased slightly with angles greater than 15°. On the basis of the leeward velocity profiles, six flow regions corresponding to those in previous models were recognized. These regions are initially bounded by kinks but gradually transition downwind and merge to recover a uniform velocity profile after a significant distance. We suggest that the separation cell is most developed when the angle of stoss slope reaches 15°, but the significance of this angle in the evolution of transverse dunes needs further exploration. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.