THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF AEOLIAN SAND RESEARCH: Definitions -- Previous work -- Future research requirements -- THE NATURE OF AIRFLOW: Physical properties of air and the Earth's atmosphere -- Nature and types of air motion -- Storm types that generate sand-transporting winds -- Flow in the atmospheric boundary layer -- CHARACTERISTICS OF WINDBLOWN SEDIMENTS: General properties of sediment grains -- Grain shape -- Porosity, permeability, and packing of sands -- Grain size characteristics of aeolian sediments -- Shape characteristics of aeolian dune sands -- Surface textures of aeolian sands -- Porosity and permeability of aeolian sands -- Sources and mineral composition of aeolian dune sand -- MECHANICS OF AEOLIAN SAND TRANSPORT: Particle entrainment -- Transport of particles by the wind -- THE FORMATION OF SAND SEAS AND DUNEFIELDS: Definition of sand seas and dunefields -- Global distribution of sand seas -- Factors controlling the distribution and magnitude of sand seas -- Development of sand seas in relation to topography -- Wind regime and regional sandflow paths -- Evolution of ergs in response to climatic changes -- Effect of sea-level changes on coastal dunefields -- Effect of sea-level changes on continental dunefields -- AEOLIAN BEDFORMS -- Types of aeolian sand accumulation and bedform terminology -- Ripples -- Sand dunes -- Vegetated dunes -- Sand sheets -- Summary of factors determining the morphology of aeolian sand accumulations -- INTERNAL SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES OF AEOLIAN SAND DEPOSITS: Internal structures of sand dunes -- Secondary sedimentary structures in dunes -- Sedimentary structures of interdune areas and sand sheets -- Niveo-aeolian deposits and cryogenic structures in cold-climate dunes -- POST-DEPOSITIONAL MODIFICATION OF DUNE SANDS: Denudation by rain splash, surface wash, soil creep, and gullying -- Near-surface compaction -- Addition of allochthonous components -- Weathering and pedogenesis of siliceous dune sands -- Formation of carbonate aeolianites -- Early diagenetic cementation by evaporite minerals -- MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN USE OF SAND DUNE ENVIRONMENTS -- Thermal properties of sand, moisture regime, and vegetation growth -- Water courses in dune areas -- Control of windblown sand -- Human use of sand dune areas -- AEOLIAN RESEARCH TECHNIQUES -- Wind tunnel studies -- Measurement of sand movement using sand traps -- Sand tracer techniques -- Methods of sample collection for grain size and mineralogical analysis -- Methods of determining the grain size of sands -- Characterization of airflow -- Methods of monitoring changes in sand dune terrain.
