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Sorting, texture and structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

O. E. Barndorff-Nielsen
Affiliation:
Department of Theoretical Statistics, Institute of Mathematics, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Synopsis

Sands are sorted by the actions of air and water. A mathematical–physical model for the ensuing spatial and temporal variations in the size distributions of the sand grains is outlined. A crucial element in aeolian sorting and transport of sand is the process that takes place when a saltating grain impinges on the sand surface. This raises the problem of describing the texture of sand surfaces. Some initial empirical and mathematical findings concerning this problem are discussed. A closely connected question is that of how the grains in a sand deposit are packed and how this relates to the size distribution. Voronoi tesselations in combination with random point processes seem to offer one useful approach to the question.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1989

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