sand ribbon Longitudinal strip of sand up to 15 km long, 200 m wide and less than 1 m thick, standing on, and surrounded by, an immobile gravel floor. Sand ribbons are developed on the sea floor of the continental shelf where there are a paucity of sand, water depths of 20–100 m, and fast-flowing currents. See RIBBONS.

sand ribbon A longitudinal strip of sand, up to 15 km long, 200 m wide and less than 1 m thick, standing on, and surrounded by, an immobile gravel floor. Sand ribbons are developed on the sea floor of the continental shelf where there is a paucity of sand, with water depths of 20–100 m and fast-flowing currents.