Is it possible to have a planet with sand tides on deserts?

Was wondering if anyone with physics knowledge could tell me something about desert worlds.

If the surface of a planet was mostly a fine sandy material (e.g. Sand) then could tidal forces cause the whole desert to flow like a slower, dustier ocean?

The idea came when watching the huge waves on a planet in the movie "Interstellar" and it was because of the tidal forces from a black hole. I figured, a planet in orbit around a small, high density, stellar object, would develop tides in anything fluid that covered the whole surface. Sand, I have read, can be described mathematically as being an incredibly viscous fluid, meaning it flows more slowly, but still flows. Could you have a desert with winds and currents and sand sailing on the high desert? I think it would be cool to have sand pirates in a world with flowing deserts.

PS: This is my first post. Sorry for wordiness.

posted about 7 years ago

Douglas‭

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