Ripples are among the smallest landforms created by the wind. They have much in common with dunes, but the sizes do not overlap (ripples are much smaller than dunes).

Ripples form when wind moves over dry, bare, sandy surfaces. Most of them are aligned roughly at right angles to the direction of the wind that formed them.

If you are observant you can figure out which direction the wind was coming from; ripples, like dunes, have gentle windward slopes and steep lee slopes.