Ripple migration and dune activity on Mars: Evidence for dynamic wind processes

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 37; no. 20
• Main Authors: Silvestro, S., Fenton, L. K., Vaz, D. A., Bridges, N. T., Ori, G. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-10-2010; American Geophysical Union; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Climate change; dune; Dunes; Earth; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Mars; Planetology; Planets; Remote sensing; ripple; Saltation; Mars; sand; dynamics; dunes; barchans; slip; Ground surface; winds; migration; undulation; saltation
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044743

In this report we show evidence of widespread ripple migration over the stoss side of dark barchan dunes in Nili Patera on Mars. The measured average migration of ∼1.7 meters in less than 4 terrestrial months clearly indicates that active sand saltation is occurring in the study area. In addition, we document widespread changes in the dune base‐ground surface contact and in the slip face structures, showing that not only the ripples, but the whole dunes are actually migrating in the present‐day atmospheric setting. These results provide unequivocal evidence of recent aeolian activity and suggest that other dunes and ripples on Mars may also be active.