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Active aeolian processes on Mars: A regional study in Arabia and Meridiani Terrae

  1. S. Silvestro1,
  2. D. A. Vaz2,
  3. L. K. Fenton1,3,
  4. P. E. Geissler4

Article first published online: 22 OCT 2011

DOI: 10.1029/2011GL048955

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Silvestro, S., D. A. Vaz, L. K. Fenton, and P. E. Geissler (2011), Active aeolian processes on Mars: A regional study in Arabia and Meridiani Terrae, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L20201, doi:10.1029/2011GL048955.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA

  2. 2

    Centre for Geophysics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

  3. 3

    NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA

  4. 4

    U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 OCT 2011
  2. Article first published online: 22 OCT 2011
  3. Manuscript Revised: 20 SEP 2011
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 20 SEP 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 19 JUL 2011

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Keywords:

  • Mars;
  • Meridiani;
  • aeolian;
  • change;
  • dune;
  • ripple

[1] We present evidence of widespread aeolian activity in the Arabia Terra/Meridiani region (Mars), where different kinds of aeolian modifications have been detected and classified. Passing from the regional to the local scale, we describe one particular dune field in Meridiani Planum, where two ripple populations are distinguished by means of different migration rates. Moreover, a consistent change in the ripple pattern is accompanied by significant dune advancement (between 0.4–1 meter in one Martian year) that is locally triggered by large avalanche features. This suggests that dune advancement may be common throughout the Martian tropics.

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