In a study of the harsh but beautiful White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, University of Pennsylvania researchers have uncovered a unifying mechanism to explain dune patterns.

Five Major Parks In or Near Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin Highlighted; Significant and Growing Impact on Beaches, Wildlife, Tourism Revenue and Jobs Detailed. CHICAGO, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Five major Great Lakes national parks are already feeling the impact of climate change in the forms of rising temperatures, decreased winter ice, eroding shorelines, spreading disease, and a crowding out of key wildlife and plant life, according to a major new report issued today by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Available online at http://www.rockymountainclimate.org/programs_13.htm, the new RMCO/NRDC report focuses on the five largest parks on the Great Lakes: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (NL) in Indiana (near Chicago); Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, Pictured Rocks NL, and Isle Royale National Park (NP) in Michigan (just offshore from Minnesota); and Apostle Islands NL in Wisconsin.

U.S. scientists have developed an alternate theory for the origin of linear dunes on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, similar to ones on Earth. Louisiana State University Professor Patrick Hesp and U.S.

The paper, "Multiple origins of linear dunes on Earth and Titan," examines a possible new mechanism for the development of very large linear dunes formed on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

Wild Dunes Resort Celebrating With 'All Day Unlimited Play' Special Golf Package ISLE OF PALMS, S.C., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Golfers can once again enjoy one of the Charleston area's most acclaimed par-5 finishing holes at Wild Dunes Resort, with the reopening of the famed oceanfront 18th hole of the Links Course on June 12 following a redesign led by golf architect Tom Fazio.