Similar patterns from very different causes - how's this possible?

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Tue, 03/14/2017 - 17:26.

Compare the following two patterns:  The first is a pattern made in insect regurgitated saw dust mining in the cambium under the bark of dead cherry, the second is fresh snow scoured by wind.   Totally different types of creative energy - resulting in very similar patterns. 

There has got to be a scientific theory which connects/explains the visual similarity.   What is it?

AttachmentSize
under-bark-pattern-IMG_09691.jpg195.09 KB
snow-wind-pattern-like-dunes-IMG_09631.jpg72.4 KB
( categories: )