TY - JOUR
T1 - A Simple Agent‐Based Model That Reproduces All Types of Barchan Interactions
AU - Robson, Dominic T.
AU - Baas, Andreas c. w.
N1 - Funding Information:
DTR is supported by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cross‐Disciplinary Approaches to Non‐Equilibrium Systems (CANES EP/L015854/1). We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023. The Authors.
PY - 2023/10/16
Y1 - 2023/10/16
N2 - We introduce a novel agent-based model for simulating interactions between migrating barchan dunes. A new two-flank representation of barchans allows modeling of bedform asymmetries that are intrinsic to collision dynamics but have not been explored before. Although simple compared with real-world barchans or those in continuum and cellular automata simulations, all known barchan behaviors emerge from the rules of our model. In particular, the two mechanisms for asymmetry growth in bimodal winds are observed and qualitatively agree with existing theories. We also reproduce the emergence of calving and all types of collisions that have been reported in reductionist models, water-tank experiments, and field observations. The computational efficiency of the new model, compared with continuum simulations, enables the simulation of large swarms of dunes while maintaining the complex phenomenology of these bedforms, some of which has been lacking in previous agent-based models.
AB - We introduce a novel agent-based model for simulating interactions between migrating barchan dunes. A new two-flank representation of barchans allows modeling of bedform asymmetries that are intrinsic to collision dynamics but have not been explored before. Although simple compared with real-world barchans or those in continuum and cellular automata simulations, all known barchan behaviors emerge from the rules of our model. In particular, the two mechanisms for asymmetry growth in bimodal winds are observed and qualitatively agree with existing theories. We also reproduce the emergence of calving and all types of collisions that have been reported in reductionist models, water-tank experiments, and field observations. The computational efficiency of the new model, compared with continuum simulations, enables the simulation of large swarms of dunes while maintaining the complex phenomenology of these bedforms, some of which has been lacking in previous agent-based models.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85173448890&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2023GL105182
DO - 10.1029/2023GL105182
M3 - Article
SN - 0094-8276
VL - 50
JO - GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
JF - GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
IS - 19
M1 - e2023GL105182
ER -