Transverse dune
Topic: Landforms and their Evolution: Rivers, Groundwater, Glaciers, Waves and Wind · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Landforms and their Evolution"
Meaning
A transverse dune is a sand dune that lies at right angles to the wind direction. It forms where the wind blows steadily from one direction and the sand comes from a long feature, such as a beach or dry riverbed, that also lies across the wind. These dunes can be very long but are low in height. They look like waves of sand on the sea.
Example
White Sands in New Mexico, USA, has rows of transverse dunes made of white gypsum sand. They lie across the main wind direction.
Don't confuse with
- Longitudinal dune: lies parallel to the wind, not across it, and forms where there is little sand.
- Barchan: a single crescent-shaped dune with horns pointing downwind, not a long straight ridge.