Listen to the Desert Sing! Strange Sounds of Namib's Whispering Dunes

https://www.ihadnoclue.com/article/1045308378539491329

The "Whispering Dunes" or "Singing Sands" of the Namib Desert in southwestern Africa is a natural acoustic wonder. When disturbed by wind or human activity, these sands emit deep, reverberating tones that can be heard from kilometers away. The phenomenon of singing sands is rare and has been documented globally, with similar occurrences observed in the Gobi Desert in China, the Kelso Dunes in California, the dunes of the Arabian Peninsula, and some coastal areas in France. The sounds vary in pitch and intensity depending on the movement of the sand and environmental conditions. The physical properties of the sand grains, particularly their size and shape, and environmental conditions like moisture content, temperature, and humidity levels are all critical factors for creating these sounds. Research into the phenomenon continues, with studies enhancing our understanding of desert environments and the physics of granular materials.