A lattice Boltzmann model for particle transport and deposition

Solid particles (such as snow or sand) can get eroded and transported by the wind, and little understanding has been achieved in this domain. We propose a description of the phenomenon in terms of a cellular automata and lattice Boltzmann model. Numerical simulations show that plausible mechanisms are sufficient to explain a wide range of deposition patterns occurring at different space scales. In particular, we reproduce the so-called ripples, that is oscillations of the deposition surface for which no formation mechanism is clearly established.