Wave-formed Ripple Marks
- Also called bidirectional ripples, or symmetrical ripple marks have a symmetrical, almost sinusoidal profile; they indicate an environment with weak currents where water motion is dominated by wave oscillations.
- In most present-day streams, ripples will not form in sediment larger than coarse sand. Therefore, the stream beds of sand-bed streams are dominated by current ripples, while gravel-bed streams do not contain bedforms. The internal structure of ripples is a base of fine sand with coarse grains deposited on top since the size distribution of sand grains correlates to the size of the ripples. This occurs because the fine grains continue to move while the coarse grains accumulate and provide a protective barrier.
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Famous quotes containing the words ripple and/or marks:
“The pure serene of memory in one man,—
A ripple widening from a single stone
Winding around the waters of the world.”
—Theodore Roethke (1908–1963)
“Judge—A law student who marks his own examination-papers.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)