Dr. Julia Cisneros
Virginia Tech

Topic: Shaped by Nature: Bedforms as Windows into Environmental Systems

Academic host: Liannie Velazquez Santana

Abstract: In the process of sediment transport through a shearing flow, dunes are forming and simultaneously recording their surrounding conditions. These records offer clues about the movement of wind and water across an ancient, otherwise unknown, landscape. In turn, dunes are influencing how sediment is transported. Key to leveraging these records of ancient environments is our understanding of the links between flow, sediment transport, and bedform morphodynamics. To gain that critical understanding, we use modern bedforms to understand the conditions of the Earth and planetary systems and improve how contemporary environments are managed.
     This talk will highlight research that aims to investigate the links between dune formation and dune shape in a range of different environmental conditions. By examining the processes driving the formation of different dune types, we gain insight into how flow conditions, sediment transport modes, and bedform morphodynamics interact to create complexity in dune morphology. Particular attention will be given to the importance of low, intermediate, and high angle dunes, with a focus on the interplay between sediment suspension, bedload transport, and bedform superimposition. Through these investigations, we demonstrate that dunes are more than just markers of sediment transport. We show that they are nuanced indicators of environmental dynamics, offering a deeper understanding of both ancient and modern systems. This information is vital to improving our approach to managing contemporary rivers under modern stressors and revealing the deposits of ancient environment.