Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt - Viking comparisons

Details Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt - Viking comparisons Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt - Viking comparisons

Dec 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979jgr....84.8222m&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 84, Dec. 30, 1979, p. 8222-8232. Research supported by the U.S. Geological Survey and NAS

Mathematics

Logic

11

Deserts, Geology, Mars Surface, Terrain, Wind Erosion, Egypt, Geomorphology, Image Processing, Mars Photographs, Photogeology, Quartzite, Satellite-Borne Photography, Viking Lander 1, Viking Lander 2

Scientific paper

The Western Desert of Egypt is one of the most arid regions on earth and is probably the closest terrestrial analog to the surface of Mars. An expedition to the area in 1978 revealed an abundance of quartzite and basalt rocks that have been pitted and fluted by wind erosion and deflation of the desert surface. These pitted rocks are internally homogeneous, show no internal holes or vesicles, and are considered an important but neglected type of ventifact. They bear a striking resemblance to the pitted and fluted rocks seen by the Viking Landers, rocks that have generally been interpreted as vesicular basalts only slightly modified by wind erosion. Wind tunnel studies of the air flow over and around nonstreamlined hand specimens from the Western Desert show that windward abrasion coupled with negative flow, secondary flow, and vorticity in a unidirectional wind can explain the complex arrays of pits and flutes. These field and laboratory observations suggest that the pitted rocks at the Viking Lander sites are also ventifacts, and thus the Martian surface may be far more wind eroded than previously thought.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt - Viking comparisons does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt - Viking comparisons, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pitted and fluted rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt - Viking comparisons will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1448463