slip face

A slip face is the leeward side of a sand dune where the slope is approximately the angle of repose for loose sand, typically around 33 degrees. This geological feature is a characteristic of sand dunes, which are accumulations of sand shaped by wind and gravity. The formation of a slip face occurs as sand is transported up the windward side of the dune and then slides down the leeward side. When the depositional slope reaches the angle of repose, the added sand slips down, maintaining this angle and allowing the dune to migrate forward. This process is fundamental to understanding dune morphology and movement in desert environments.12