An Acoustic Sensor System to Measure Aeolian Ripple Morphology and Migration Rates.

Area of Science:

• Geomorphology
• Sensor Technology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Acoustic distance sensors are widely used for subaqueous bedforms.
• Applications for aeolian bedforms, such as ripples, are limited.
• Existing methods for measuring aeolian ripples have drawbacks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and reliable acoustic sensor apparatus for measuring aeolian bedforms.
• To assess the accuracy and capabilities of the developed system for ripple morphology and migration analysis.
• To compare the advantages of this acoustic system against terrestrial laser scanning and structure from motion techniques.

Main Methods:

• A custom apparatus was designed using two Senix ToughSonic acoustic distance sensors.
• One sensor measured surface elevation (ripple morphology), while the other measured horizontal location.
• Signal processing involved data conversion, detrending, and noise removal to analyze ripple characteristics.

Main Results:

• The system achieved a vertical resolution of 0.22 mm and locational accuracy of 0.22 mm.
• Analysis yielded ripple morphologies and migration rates consistent with independent measurements.
• The apparatus demonstrated reliability and simplicity in capturing aeolian ripple dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The developed acoustic sensor system provides a viable and accurate method for studying aeolian bedforms.
• This technology offers advantages over existing methods like terrestrial laser scanning and structure from motion.
• The system has significant potential for advancing research in aeolian geomorphology and related fields.