Primary Convener:
Lu Jing, Tsinghua University

Convener:
Kimberly Hill, University of Minnesota
Yue Meng, Purdue University
Qiong Zhang, Northwestern University

Early Career Convener:
Benjamin Alessio, Stanford University

Chair:
Kimberly Hill, University of Minnesota
Yue Meng, Purdue University
Lu Jing, Tsinghua University
Qiong Zhang, Northwestern University

Earth and planetary surfaces are covered by granular material that may flow under the action of gravity, interaction with fluids such as air or water, or other geophysical processes. These geophysical granular flows and sediment transport phenomena are at the heart of landscape dynamics (hillslope creep, riverbed evolution, coastal erosion), pattern formation (grain sorting and segregation, dunes, ripples), and geohazards (landslide, debris flow, snow avalanche). A fundamental challenge lies in the multiscale nature of granular materials rendering a continuum description difficult to achieve. Recent advances in high-resolution imaging and particle-resolved numerical simulations allowed for insights into particle-scale mechanisms. However, research carried out at the particle-scale has yet to be harmonized into a consistent theoretical body able to match field and laboratory observations. We invite field, experimental and numerical research from particle to macroscopic scales to address this theme’s open questions.

Index Terms
1822 Geomechanics
1862 Sediment transport
4314 Mathematical and computer modeling

Cross-Listed:
NH - Natural Hazards

Neighborhoods:
3. Earth Covering