# Circadian rhythm of dune-field activity

## TL;DR

This study uncovers a daily rhythm in dune activity driven by atmospheric boundary layer convection, linking climate dynamics to sand and dust transport in desert environments on Earth and Mars.

## Contribution

It provides the first empirical evidence connecting diurnal temperature cycles with dune activity through multi-scale field experiments and global analysis.

## Key findings

- Daily sand and dust transport rhythms are driven by atmospheric convection.
- Surface wind speed correlates with diurnal temperature cycles across dune fields.
- Climate feedback mechanisms influence desert growth and dune activity on Mars.

## Abstract

Wind-blown sand dunes are both a consequence and a driver of climate dynamics; they arise under persistently dry and windy conditions, and are sometimes a source for airborne dust. Dune fields experience extreme daily changes in temperature, yet the role of atmospheric stability in driving sand transport and dust emission has not been established. Here we report on an unprecedented multi-scale field experiment at the White Sands Dune Field (New Mexico, USA), where we demonstrate that a daily rhythm of sand and dust transport arises from non-equilibrium atmospheric boundary layer convection. A global analysis of 45 dune fields confirms the connection between surface wind speed and diurnal temperature cycles, revealing an unrecognized climate feedback that may contribute to the growth of deserts on Earth and dune activity on Mars.