BEDFORMS AND STRUCTURES FORMED BY AIR FLOW

Presented By: IKEHI EMMANUEL 0206/2009 ETU EUGENE 0186/2009 EMOVWODO GIDEON 0404/2010

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, LOGO EFFURUN

OUTLINE
1) Introduction 2) Aeolian Transport Processes 3) Texture and composition of air blown sediments 4) Bedforms and structures formed by airflow Ripples Dunes

Draas
5) Summary 6) References

1. Introduction
Formation of a body of sediments involves the transportation of particles to the site of deposition through various means e.g gravity, water, air, ice. Transportation and deposition of sediments by air flow is also known as aeolian transport. Aeolian environments are those in which the deposits are made up mainly of wind-blown material. The most obvious aeolian environments are the large sandy deserts in hot, dry areas of continents, but there are significant accumulations of wind-borne material associated with sandy beaches known as erg.

1. Introduction

continued

The movement of air (wind) is driven by pressure differences between two places.

The speed of the air will be determined by the pressure difference.

The circulation of air in the atmosphere is ultimately driven by temperature differences.

2. Aeolian Transport Processes

Flow of air over a loose grain of sand exerts a lift force on the particle and with increasing velocity the force may increase to the point where the grain rolls or saltates. At high wind velocities silt- and clay-sized particles are carried as suspended load.

Fig. 2. Modes of sediment transport by the wind. (Gary , 2009)

3. Texture and composition of air blown sediments

The grains of aeolian sediments are well rounded due to multiple impacts. Aeolian deposits are typically well sorted due to selective separation of grains during transport.

Aeolain deposits are considered to be texturally matured.

Wind deposited sands are mainly quartz arenites because they are very resistant and therefore resist the abrasive effect of grain impact during transport.

A bedform is a morphological feature formed by the interaction between a flow and cohesionless sediment on a bed. The formation of bedforms creates distinctive layering and structures within the sediment that can be preserved in strata. Three groups of bedforms formed by airflow can be separated on the basis of their sizes: Ripples Dunes Drass

4. Bedforms and Structures formed by airflow

Fig. 4.1: Aeolian ripples, dunes and draas are three distinct types of aeolian bedform. (Gary , 2009)

Each of the bedform appears to be a distinct class of bedform with no transitional form (fig. 4.1).
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4.1 Aeolian ripple

Fig. 4.2 Formation process of Aeolian ripples (Gary , 2009)

Aeolian ripples are formed by grains saltating.

At constant wind velocity all medium sand grains will move about the same distance each time they saltate. The result is a series of piles of grains aligned perpendicular to the wind and spaced equal distances apart.

4.1 Aeolian ripple

continued

Aeolian ripples range in wavelength between 0.01 m & 20.0 m. The ripple height (bottom of the trough to the top of a crest) ranges from a few millimetres to 1 m. Coarser grains tend to be concentrated at the crests, where the finer grains are winnowed away by the wind, and as aeolian ripples migrate they may form a layer of inversely graded sand.

Fig. 4.3 Aeolian ripples in modern desert sands: the pen is 18 cm long. (Gary , 2009)

Migration of ripples produces a structure referred to as crosslamination. Cross-laminae are inclined thin (< 1 cm) layers of sand.
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4.2 Aeolian Dune

Aeolian dunes are bedforms that range from 3m to 600m in wavelength and are between 10 cm and 100m high. Movement of sand grains by the wind causes dunes to grow in height as well as to migrate. They migrate by the saltation of sand up the stoss (upwind) side of the dune to the crest. (fig 4.4) This saltation may result in the formation of aeolian ripples which are commonly seen on the stoss sides of dunes. (fig 4.5) Sand accumulating at the crest of the dune is unstable and will cascade down the lee slope as an avalanche or grain flow to form an inclined layer of sand. (fig 4.6) At high wind speeds some sand grains are in temporary suspension and are blown directly over the crest of the dune and fall out onto the lee slope. (fig 4.4) Grain flow from the crest and grain fall deposits accumulate on the lee side of the slope to form crossbedded sediments.
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4.2 Aeolian Dune

continued

Fig. 4.4 Aeolian dunes migrate as sand blown up the stoss (upwind) side. (Gary , 2009)

Fig. 4.5 Aeolian ripples superimposed on an aeolian dune. (Gary , 2009)

Fig. 4.6 Grain flow on the lee slope of an aeolian dune. (Gary , 2009)

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4.2 Aeolian Dune

continued

The orientation and form of the cross-bedding depends on the type of dune .

Fig. 4.7 Four of the main aeolian dune types, their forms determined by the direction of the prevailing wind(s) and the availability of sand. (Gary , 2009)

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4.2 Aeolian Dune

continued

Fig. 4.8 Aeolian dune cross-bedding in sands deposited in a desert: the view is approximately 5m high. (Gary , 2009)

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4.3 Aeolian Draa

Aeolian draa can be referred to as mega dunes. Their dimension ranges from hundreds of metres to kilometers in wavelength and tens to hundreds of metres in amplitude. They are a distinct, larger bedform separate from the dunes that may be superimposed on them. They show a similar variability of shape to dunes with star, linear and transverse forms.

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Summary
Aeolian deposits occur mainly in arid environments. Aeolian deposits are mainly sand and silt with quartz being the main mineral. And they are also well rounded and sorted. The main sedimentary structure associated with aeolian bedforms is the large-scale dune crossbedding and parallel stratification in sands. Aeolian deposit are good hydrocarbon reservoirs because they are texturally mature.

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References
Gary Nicholes (2009) Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (2nd edition), Wiley - Blackwell, Oxford. Kenneth Pye, Haim Tsoar, springer (2009) Aeolian Sand and Sand Dunes,

Leeder Mike R. (1982) Sedimentology: Process and Product, Unwin Hyman, London.
Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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