June 20, 2004 The photo above showing wave ripple marks
preserved in Cambrian limestone was taken in October 2000 near
the village of Tiout, in the Anti-Atlas Range of Morocco.
Ripples are a particular sedimentary bedform generated by
unidirectional currents in shallow water. The shape of the
ripples depends primarily on a balance between the bedload and
the material that is settling from suspension. If there's little
suspended load, the ripples tend to be steep. However, if
there's a large suspended load, the lee slope builds steadily,
forming curved and gentle surfaces. Ripples are dynamic features
that change constantly. As ripples migrate down-current, they
tend to fill the troughs in front of them. This natural
association of troughs and ripples is responsible for the
development of small-scale cross-stratification commonly seen in
shallow water sedimentary rocks.