Subaqueous dune dynamics : findings and perspectives
Event details
| Date | 18.05.2026 |
| Hour | 12:15 › 13:30 |
| Speaker | Dr. Arnaud Doré, Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract
Dunes and ripples are fascinating bedforms which have continuously attracted great attention from the scientific community since the seminal work of Bagnold (1941) on wind-generated dunes in the Sahara. Findings from space agencies revealed the presence of analogous bedforms in various planetary environments and comets[1]. Dunes are ubiquitous in terrestrial subaqueous environments and share the same universal mechanism of generation as their extra-terrestrial and aeolian counterparts. They pose a significant risk for offshore activities in coastal areas, especially with the growing development of renewable marine energy[2], and for navigation along the most frequented navigational routes in European rivers[3]. The presence of sand dunes leads to a significant increase of the flow resistance[4], which needs to be carefully described for predicting velocities, water levels and bathymetric variations in forecast models. Although sand dunes represent a great scientific and operational interest, their evolution is still poorly understood due to their complex behaviour.
Through experiments, numerical modeling, and machine learning, Arnaud has advanced understanding of the physical processes that control subaqueous dune morphodynamics, from near-flat beds to equilibrium states, revealing the complex feedback mechanisms that shape non-cohesive sand beds. In this seminar, he will discuss these results and their broader implications for predicting the development and large-scale organization of dune fields. He will also share insights from his work as a coastal scientist at the Danish Hydraulic Institute.
Biography
Dr. Arnaud Doré is a graduate of Centrale Marseille (Aix-Marseille University) and holds a PhD in Coastal Oceanography from the University of Bordeaux (CNRS/EPOC lab), awarded in 2015. For over a decade, he has worked as a coastal scientist and engineer, primarily at the Danish Hydraulic Institute in Copenhagen. His research focuses on nearshore and seabed morphodynamics, employing a range of tools including data analysis, numerical modeling, and machine learning. In 2021, Dr. Doré was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship for DUNAMICS, a three-year collaborative project between the University of Auckland and DHI. This research investigates submarine dunes using a combination of experiments, numerical modeling, and high-resolution multibeam datasets.
Sandwiches will be provided before the seminar.
Dunes and ripples are fascinating bedforms which have continuously attracted great attention from the scientific community since the seminal work of Bagnold (1941) on wind-generated dunes in the Sahara. Findings from space agencies revealed the presence of analogous bedforms in various planetary environments and comets[1]. Dunes are ubiquitous in terrestrial subaqueous environments and share the same universal mechanism of generation as their extra-terrestrial and aeolian counterparts. They pose a significant risk for offshore activities in coastal areas, especially with the growing development of renewable marine energy[2], and for navigation along the most frequented navigational routes in European rivers[3]. The presence of sand dunes leads to a significant increase of the flow resistance[4], which needs to be carefully described for predicting velocities, water levels and bathymetric variations in forecast models. Although sand dunes represent a great scientific and operational interest, their evolution is still poorly understood due to their complex behaviour.
Through experiments, numerical modeling, and machine learning, Arnaud has advanced understanding of the physical processes that control subaqueous dune morphodynamics, from near-flat beds to equilibrium states, revealing the complex feedback mechanisms that shape non-cohesive sand beds. In this seminar, he will discuss these results and their broader implications for predicting the development and large-scale organization of dune fields. He will also share insights from his work as a coastal scientist at the Danish Hydraulic Institute.
[1] Jia, P., Andreotti, B. and P. Claudin, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114 (10), 2509-2514 (2017).
[2] Barrie, J. V., and K. W. Conway, Continental Shelf Research, 83, 45-52, (2014).
[3] Vantorre, M., et al., Fourth International Conference on Marine and River Dune Dynamics, 301-308, (2013).
[4] Deigaard,R., and J. Fredsøe, Proceedings of the 20th Coastal Engineering Conference, 1047-1061, (1987).
Biography
Dr. Arnaud Doré is a graduate of Centrale Marseille (Aix-Marseille University) and holds a PhD in Coastal Oceanography from the University of Bordeaux (CNRS/EPOC lab), awarded in 2015. For over a decade, he has worked as a coastal scientist and engineer, primarily at the Danish Hydraulic Institute in Copenhagen. His research focuses on nearshore and seabed morphodynamics, employing a range of tools including data analysis, numerical modeling, and machine learning. In 2021, Dr. Doré was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship for DUNAMICS, a three-year collaborative project between the University of Auckland and DHI. This research investigates submarine dunes using a combination of experiments, numerical modeling, and high-resolution multibeam datasets.
Sandwiches will be provided before the seminar.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
- Prof. Mirko Musa, Director of STREEM Lab
Contact
- Prof. Mirko Musa, Director of STREEM Lab