How do reversing dunes form during seasonal wind changes?

Reversing dunes are a specific type of sand dune that form in regions where winds blow from opposing directions during different seasons.1

Because these winds alternate seasonally, the dune's slip face—the steep leeward slope where sand accumulates—does not remain in a fixed position. Instead, the slip face shifts orientation, facing first in one direction and then in the other as the prevailing wind direction changes. This periodic reversal prevents the dune from migrating in a single direction as a standard dune would, causing it to oscillate or maintain a more stable position while its internal structure adjusts to the seasonal wind cycle.12