Sand Dune Wind Erosion

This simulation depicts aeolian sediment transport: the process by which sustained wind picks up, bounces (saltates), and redeposits individual sand grains across a dune field. Over time this grain-by-grain migration sculpts the smooth, wave-like ripples and larger dune crests visible on the surface, with ripple wavelength and migration speed governed by wind velocity. Watch the fine ripple bands travel steadily across the dune while the broader dune silhouette stays comparatively stable, mirroring how real dunes creep slowly downwind even as their surface ripples move much faster. Use the wind and grain controls below to see how erosion intensity reshapes the surface in real time.
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