Dune deformation and interactions in the North Loup River, Nebraska 

Subaqueous dunes in the North Loup River, NE, were photographed by balloon-mounted cameras taking pictures every minute. This experiment tested whether spurs, long linear fingers attached to the downstream side of dune crestlines, enhanced or inhibited deformation in the dune field pattern. 


Collaborators: Gary Kocurek, David Mohrig, Benjamin Cardenas, Jasmin Mason, Max Daniller-Varghese, Sarah Brothers

Helium-balloon-suspended camera setup later used to photograph migrating dunes in the North Loup River, NE

---

Wind-tunnel experiments on model martian craters 

Physical models of vertically exaggerated idealized craters were filled with fine sand, dampened for cohesion. These filled craters were left in a wind tunnel to erode while an XBox Kinect recorded their changing elevation. Erosion began at the outside edge of the fill, creating a moat between the model rim and inner sand. This moat deepened, forming a central mound that retreated until finally eroding completely away. 

​
Collaborators: Will Anderson, Gary Kocurek, David Mohrig  

Elevation (left) and calculated erosion (right) from crater-model experiment in both plan view (top) and cross-section (bottom). Wind from left to right.