Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufm.p21b..05g&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #P21B-05
Other
5409 Atmospheres: Structure And Dynamics, 5415 Erosion And Weathering, 5464 Remote Sensing, 6225 Mars
Scientific paper
Various wind-related features exist at the Spirit (Gusev) and Opportunity (Sinus Meridiani) sites, including those seen from the surface (e.g., ripples, "wind tails" associated with rocks, and ventifacts), and from orbit (e.g., linear low-albedo patterns, some of which change with time). The orientations of these features suggest that formative winds at the Spirit site are from the northwest, consistent with predictions of prevailing winds from the Mars Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (MRAMS). Most of the aeolian features seen from orbit at the Spirit site are dark tracks thought to represent the passage of dust devils. HRSC images show that many tracks formed recently, including the one on which Spirit landed; MER Microscopic Imager data show that sands within the track zone are moderately dust free, while sands outside the track are dusty. Thus, dark dust devil tracks here and perhaps elsewhere on Mars are confirmed to represent the removal of bright dust to expose a darker substrate, which, at the Spirit site, consists of coarser-grained sands and granules in the bedforms and silt- to fine-sand in the soils. MRAMS suggests that strong winds occur in the afternoon in Gusev crater, a time consistent with dust-devil formation on both Earth and Mars. At the Meridiani site, prevailing wind-related features seen from orbit are bright wind streaks associated with craters, the orientations of which suggest formative winds from the northwest. Detailed mapping of aeolian features using MER data shows that local topography (such as craters and other depressions) at both rover sites can have a strong influence on the inferred wind patterns. Thus, data from both orbit and the surface are required to determine the general wind regime.
Arvidson Ray
Athena Science Team
Foing Bernard H.
Gerhard Neukum
Golombek Matthew P.
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