Toward a Genetic Classification of Aeolian Sand Dunes Kevin R. Mulligan, Department of Economics and Geography, Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas Vatche P. Tchakerian, Department of Geography and Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas Aeolian sand dunes occur in a wide variety of forms in many different environmental settings. Although several notable attempts have been made to classify dune forms (e.g. Hack, 1941; McKee, 1979; Pye and Tsoar, 1990; Cooke et. al., 1993; Lancaster, 1995; Livingstone and Warren, 1996; Thomas, 1997), the problem of dune classification is complicated by the diverse terminology used in the literature and a lack of consensus among geomorphologists. More importantly, most dune classification systems fail to emphasize the genetic linkage between different dune types. In many situations dune morphologies can be represented as part of a continuum from one dune type to another. The purpose of this paper is to outline a simple dune classification system that stresses the genetic linkage between the different types of dunes controlled by autogenic processes, vegetation and topography. Dunes Related to Autogenic Processes In the first case, dunes controlled by autogenic processes reflect bedform self- organization and the nature of dune morphology is largely a function of the wind regime, sand supply and time. Over very long time scales these dunes can become part of larger draas or ergs in depositional basins or sinks. Dunes Related to Vegetation In the second case, vegetation is considered to be an important controlling variable and dunes are classified as part of a continuum reflecting the degree of sand accumulation or deflation. In the absence of vegetation (either natural or human induced), these dunes can take on the form of autogenic dunes. Dunes Related to Topography Lastly, dunes are classified in relation to topography, expressed as either sloped terrain or cliffed terrain. In this case, dune forms are controlled by their relative position with respect to the dominant wind direction and slope. REFERENCES Cooke, R., Warren, A., and Goudie, A., 1993, Desert Geomorphology, UCL Press, London, p. 526. Hack, J.T., 1941, Dunes of the western Navaho county, Geographical Review, v. 31, p. 240-263. Lancaster, N., 1995, Geomorphology of Desert Dunes, Routledge Press, London, 290 p. Livingstone, I., and Warren, A., 1996, Aeolian Geomorphology, Longman, Essex, 211 p. McKee, E.D., 1979, Introduction to a study of global sand seas. In E.D. McKee (ed) A Study of Global Sand Seas, U.S.G.S. Professional Paper 1052, p. 1-19. Pye, K., and Tsoar, H., 1990, Aeolian Sand and Sand Dunes, Unwin Hyman, London, 396 p. Thomas, D.S.G., 1997, Arid Zone Geomorphology, John Wiley and Sons, London, 713 p. DUNE FORMS RELATED TO TOPOGRAPHY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN UPWIND ………………………………………………………… ……….………………………………………………. DOWNWIND FLAT SLOPED STEEPLY SLOPED STEEPLY SLOPED SLOPED FLAT sand sheet sand ramp climbing dune falling dune leeward dune sand sheet CLIFFED TERRAIN FLAT WINDWARD CLIFF MESA TOP LEEWARD CLIFF FLAT sand sheet echo dunes cliff top dunes leeward dune sand sheet UPWIND …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……. DOWNWIND TOTAL SAND ACCUMULATION DUNE FORMS RELATED TO VEGETATION SAND ACCUMULATION ……………..……. STABILIZED SAND ……..……… SAND DEFLATION LOW MEDIUM HIGH coppice dunes (nebkhas) foredunes or lunettes precipitation ridges stabilized dunes deflation hollows blowouts parabolic dunes TOTAL SAND DEFLATION LOW MEDIUM HIGH UNIMODAL WIND ….. BIMODAL WIND coppice dunes (nebkhas) vegetated linear dunes stabilized dunes stabilized dunes vegetated linear dunes UNIMODAL WIND SAND SUPPLY LOW MEDIUM HIGH EFFECTIVE WIND REGIME UNIMODAL ………………….……..… BIMODAL …………..…….. OPPOSING .….. // …… MULTIDIRECTIONAL LOW ANGLE …………………… HIGH ANGLE barchans barchanoid ridges transverse dunes compound barchans asymmetric barchans seif dunes linear dunes (seif dunes) linear dunes (seif dunes) reversing dunes reversing dunes reversing dunes TIME (MEMORY) SHORT MEDIUM LONG simple star star dunes or network dunes star dunes or network dunes DUNE FORMS RELATED TO AUTOGENIC PROCESSES (BEDFORM SELF-ORGAINZATION) complex dunes (two or more superimposed forms) | draas | ergs (sand seas) VERY LONG DEPOSITIONAL BASIN OR SINK