CAREER: Interpreting dune-field evolution from aeolian bedform patterns

沙丘覆盖了地球上超过230万平方英里的土地。吹沙和迁徙的沙丘扰乱了农业和交通，给当地居民带来了经济和后勤问题。人们对单个沙丘的行为进行了很好的研究，但了解和预测整个沙丘如何迁移仍然是一个复杂而未解决的问题。在这项工作中，研究小组将研究沙丘地区出现的大规模模式，然后利用这些模式来开发沙丘迁移的数值模型。对美国西南部的三个沙丘区域和风洞中实验创建的沙丘区域的测量将为数值模型的发展提供信息。这一策略已经成功地应用于其他系统，并将提高科学家预测和缓解人口稠密地区附近沙丘侵蚀的能力。作为这项工作的一部分，该团队还将开发一个虚拟实地旅行资料库，可以使用商业虚拟现实耳机来体验。这些公开提供的虚拟实地考察将利用虚拟技术的改进来提高地球科学教育的质量和可及性。该项目由地貌学和土地利用动力学以及EAR教育和人力资源计划共同资助。本研究将利用野外、模拟、实验和遥感等方法的优势，通过沙丘格局的透镜来研究沙丘野外迁移。将使用气象站收集的高频测量和沙丘位置的精确空间测量来监测这三个沙丘区域。还将进行风洞实验，以测试在受控实验环境中沙丘模式如何受到影响。来自自然沙丘和风洞实验的测量结果将被整合到沙丘领域开发的开源模型中，以在模拟中设置时间尺度和长度尺度。为改进地球科学教育而开发的虚拟实地旅行将使用360度立体摄像机进行捕捉。总体而言，这项工作将回答有关沙丘的基本问题，并改善地球科学教育。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Dune fields cover more than 2.3 million square miles on Earth. Blowing sand and migrating dunes disrupt agriculture and transport, causing economic and logistical problems for local populations. The behavior of individual dunes is well-studied, but understanding and predicting how whole dune-fields migrate remains a complex and unsolved problem. In this work, the research team will study the large-scale patterns that arise in dune fields, and then use those patterns to develop a numerical model of dune migration. Measurements from three dune fields in the southwestern United States and dune fields created experimentally in a wind tunnel will inform the development of the numerical model. This strategy has been successfully applied in other systems, and will improve scientists’ ability to predict and mitigate dune encroachment near populated areas. As part of this work, the team will also develop a library of virtual field trips that can be experienced using commercial virtual reality headsets. These publicly available virtual field trips will leverage improvements in virtual technology to enhance the quality and accessibility of geoscience education. This project is co-funded by the Geomorphology and Land-use Dynamics and the EAR Education and Human Resources Programs.To study dune field migration through the lens of dune patterns, this research will take advantage of the strengths of field, modeling, experimental, and remote sensing methods. The three dune fields will be monitored using high-frequency measurements collected by meteorological stations and precise spatial measurements of dune position. Wind tunnel experiments will also be conducted to test how dune patterns can be influenced in controlled experimental settings. Measurements from both dunes in nature and wind tunnel experiments will be integrated into an open-source model of dune-field development to set the timescales and length scales in the simulation. The virtual field trips developed to improve geoscience education will be captured using 360 degree stereo video cameras. Overall this work will answer fundamental questions about dunes and improve geoscience education.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.