Abstract : Previous work has shown that sound penetration into sandy sediments at low grazing angles is enhanced when ripples are present on the seafloor. In addition, ripples may change effective seafloor roughness and cause strong wave/current attenuation. The long-term goal of our research program is to create broad scientific knowledge that underpins the development of predictive tools for ripple dynamics and benthic transformations under variable wave forcing. The main purpose is to better understand the genesis, temporal and spatial evolution and decay of small-scale ripple morphology on sandy seafloors in shallow waters for homogeneous as well as heterogeneous sediments. The principal approach is to identify, investigate and parameterize critical hydrodynamic processes and parameters that affect ripple dynamics and transformations using laboratory experiments, theoretical analyses and numerical simulations. The near-term objectives of our research are to: (i) study the dynamics and morphology of symmetric/asymmetric ripples generated under variable waves forcing; (ii) investigate the genesis, evolution, dislocations and decay of ripples under weak oscillatory-flow and turbulence conditions; (iii) study segregation processes that are frequently observed in field situations but practically ignored in laboratory/theoretical studies; (iv) develop models and parameterizations for ripple formation, growth, transformation and decay under variable forcing; and (v) verify the models developed using laboratory data and available field observations.