title: Minimal model for sand dunes.
abstract: We propose a minimal model for aeolian sand dunes. It combines an analytical description of the turbulent wind velocity field above the dune with a continuum saltation model that allows for saturation transients in the sand flux. The model provides a qualitative understanding of important features of real dunes, such as their longitudinal shape and aspect ratio, the formation of a slip face, the breaking of scale invariance, and the existence of a minimum dune size.
authors.affiliation: PMMH, Ecole Superieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles, 10, rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kroy
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sauermann
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Herrmann