Definition
A collection of inclined deposits formed by aeolian trapping of sand against a topographic barrier.
Category
A type of obstacle dune
A type of mass wasting landform
A type of alluvial deposit
A type of colluvial deposit
Description
A sand ramp is a large dune-scale collection of aeolian, fluvial, and talus deposits formed among desert piedmont topography. Sand ramps may develop on either side of a mountain range, often as pairs, as part of sediment transport pathways. Preserved sand ramps may record long periods of tectonic stability and paleoclimate change. They are constructed by geomorphological processes of wind, water, and mass wasting which result in a large variability in sediment sizes (e.g., fine sand to boulders) and compositions. In general, sand ramps can be viewed as an intermediary between the end members of climbing/falling dunes, alluvial fans, and (dry) landslides. Martian examples of falling and climbing dunes formed by aeolian and mass-wasting processes...
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References
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Chojnacki, M. (2015). Sand Ramp. In: Hargitai, H., Kereszturi, Á. (eds) Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_538
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_538
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