'''The influence of surface heterogeneities on the formation frequency and intensity of dust devils''' \\ Responsible: Maren Weismüller \\ Project type: Master thesis \\ Duration: 01/04/2012- \\\\ Dust devils have been simulated by large-eddy simulation models with a resolution of up to 1m. However, the intensity of those simulated dust devils does not reach the intensity of observed dust devils. Since one possible reason is that previous studies only used homogeneously heated surfaces, this study will investigate the effect of thermal surface heterogeneities on the formation of dust devils. \\\\