Defined model

Pick one particular grain from the Sahara

Probability:
1.25 × 10⁻²²%
Odds:
1 to (7.98 × 10²³)
dBan
−239 dBan

Mark one grain in the modelled Sahara and choose uniformly from them all: the chance of returning to it is about one in 798 sextillion.

Calculation

p = 1 in 7.98 × 10²³. N = 9.4 × 10¹² × 0.20 × 10 × 0.60 / ((π/6) × 0.0003³)

Assumptions

The model uses a total area of 9.4 million km², with dunes covering 20% to an assumed depth of 10 m. Grains are modelled as 0.3 mm spheres with 60% solid packing.

Sources

  1. NASA Earth Matters: Sahara area
  2. Utah Geological Survey: dune fraction page 10