Vortex Dust Flux: Experimental Results Comparing Terrestrial and Martian Cases

Details Vortex Dust Flux: Experimental Results Comparing Terrestrial and Martian Cases Vortex Dust Flux: Experimental Results Comparing Terrestrial and Martian Cases

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufm.p51c0457n&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #P51C-0457

Physics

0343 Planetary Atmospheres (5405, 5407, 5409, 5704, 5705, 5707), 3332 Mesospheric Dynamics, 5409 Atmospheres: Structure And Dynamics, 5415 Erosion And Weathering, 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

Evidence for active aeolian processes (dunes, windstreaks, ripples, dust storms, and dust devils) on Mars have been observed by Viking, Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Mars Pathfinder (MPF), and Mars Odyssey. Dust devils on Mars, as on Earth, are seasonally dependent and are very common in some areas, leaving both bright and dark streaks in their wakes demonstrating their ability to modify the surface. Previously, experimental work demonstrated that the dust lifting mechanism, predominantly the pressure drop (Δ P) in the dust devil core, is more efficient at lifting dust than boundary layer winds. The amount of dust that is lifted via the Δ P-mechanism (dust flux) is not well understood for Earth or Mars. This study aims to develop that understanding through experiments with the Arizona State University Vortex Generator (ASUVG) at both Earth-ambient ( ˜1000mb) and Mars ( ˜10mb) conditions using physical analogs for martian dust (particles ˜2μ m in diameter). The ASUVG generates dust-devil-like vortices through a motor-driven blade assembly positioned over a configurable test bed. Currently flux experiments have included a removable test plate that rests on an in situ balance used to measure the dust mass loss as a function of time for a ˜5mm-thick bed of dust settled by suspension. Preliminary results have given lower limits on dust devil dust flux for terrestrial ( ˜1-2 g/m2/s) and martian ( ˜2-4 g/m2/s) conditions. Martian conditions yield fluxes that are ˜1.5-2.0 times that of the analogous terrestrial cases. The terrestrial results are comparable to field observations made by Metzger (1999) in Eldorado Valley, NV, demonstrating the validity of using the ASUVG. Future studies intend the usage of optical systems to relate suspended dust opacity to mass in order to expand the range in sizes and speeds of vortices examined.

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