Parabolic dune
Topic: Landforms and their Evolution: Rivers, Groundwater, Glaciers, Waves and Wind · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Landforms and their Evolution"
Meaning
A parabolic dune is a U-shaped sand dune. It is like a barchan (a crescent-shaped dune) turned backward. Its arms point upwind, while the wind keeps blowing from the same direction. It forms where plants partly cover the sand. The plants hold the arms in place while the wind blows the middle part forward.
Example
Parabolic dunes are common in the Thar desert of Rajasthan, especially on its eastern side, where scattered shrubs and grasses anchor the arms of the dunes.
Don't confuse with
- Barchan: a crescent-shaped dune with its horns pointing downwind, forming over a bare, even surface. A parabolic dune's arms point upwind because plants hold them back.