The Contribution of Sand Ripple and Slope Driven Sediment Flux to Morphologic Change of an Idealized Mound Under Waves

Abstract We investigate pathways of sediment diffusion for a Gaussian‐shaped sand mound subjected to monochromatic waves. Our unique results nearly close the budget by quantifying each transport processes responsible associated with flux due slope driven and ripple migration. Downslope progression was observed as ripples formed at top advanced down side slopes in direction perpendicular wave propagation. Once on sides mounds became from bottom mound, persisting even after reached base avalanching gravity slope. Lateral migration caused migrate along parallel lateral spreading around mound. largely splitting large downslope center that generated longer wavelengths than orbital hydrodynamics could support. To restore equilibrium between flow conditions, continuously split migrated laterally reflect importance transport, bed fluidization, dynamics larger scale diffusivity suggest fluxes should be more explicitly included formulations.