Planet-wide sand motion on Mars

Research Article| January 01, 2012 Planet-wide sand motion on Mars Nathan T. Bridges; Nathan T. Bridges 1Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mary C. Bourke; Mary C. Bourke 2Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona 85719, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul E. Geissler; Paul E. Geissler 3U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Maria E. Banks; Maria E. Banks 4Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC 20013, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Cindy Colon; Cindy Colon 5Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Serina Diniega; Serina Diniega 6Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Matthew P. Golombek; Matthew P. Golombek 6Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Candice J. Hansen; Candice J. Hansen 2Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona 85719, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sarah Mattson; Sarah Mattson 7Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alfred S. McEwen; Alfred S. McEwen 7Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael T. Mellon; Michael T. Mellon 8Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nicholas Stantzos; Nicholas Stantzos 3U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bradley J. Thomson Bradley J. Thomson 1Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Nathan T. Bridges 1Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Mary C. Bourke 2Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona 85719, USA Paul E. Geissler 3U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA Maria E. Banks 4Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC 20013, USA Cindy Colon 5Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA Serina Diniega 6Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Matthew P. Golombek 6Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA Candice J. Hansen 2Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona 85719, USA Sarah Mattson 7Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Alfred S. McEwen 7Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Michael T. Mellon 8Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Nicholas Stantzos 3U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA Bradley J. Thomson 1Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 18 Apr 2011 Revision Received: 03 Aug 2011 Accepted: 15 Aug 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (1): 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32373.1 Article history Received: 18 Apr 2011 Revision Received: 03 Aug 2011 Accepted: 15 Aug 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Nathan T. Bridges, Mary C. Bourke, Paul E. Geissler, Maria E. Banks, Cindy Colon, Serina Diniega, Matthew P. Golombek, Candice J. Hansen, Sarah Mattson, Alfred S. McEwen, Michael T. Mellon, Nicholas Stantzos, Bradley J. Thomson; Planet-wide sand motion on Mars. Geology 2012;; 40 (1): 31–34. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32373.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Prior to Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data, images of Mars showed no direct evidence for dune and ripple motion. This was consistent with climate models and lander measurements indicating that winds of sufficient intensity to mobilize sand were rare in the low-density atmosphere. We show that many sand ripples and dunes across Mars exhibit movement of as much as a few meters per year, demonstrating that Martian sand migrates under current conditions in diverse areas of the planet. Most motion is probably driven by wind gusts that are not resolved in global circulation models. A past climate with a thicker atmosphere is only required to move large ripples that contain coarse grains. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.