Sand wave

A sand wave is frequently defined as a type of usually a large, ridge-like bathymetric feature, called a bedform, that is created by the interaction between underwater unidirectional currents with noncohesive, granular sediment, e.g., silt, sand, and gravel and lies transverse to the flow of these currents. There exists a lack any universally accepted classification scheme among sedimentologists, geologists, and other Earth scientists that precisely defines the difference between sand waves and similar bedforms, such as ripples, megaripples, subaqueous dunes, and sediment waves. In some classification systems, antidunes are known as regressive sand waves and sand waves are classified as a type of dune. Sand waves are typically customary defined and thought of as part of a gradational continuum of bedforms that change with increasing current velocity and changes in the associated turbulence of the flowing water. According to some commonly used classification systems, this progression of bedforms, with increasing current velocity consists of current ripples, dunes (which includes sand waves), plane-beds, and antidunes. This progression is actually more complicated then this because the type of bedform associated with a particular current velocity is also determined by the size and mixture of either the silt, sand, or gravel being transported by the current.