How does topography affect wind abrasion on Mars? Recently observed shifts in ventifact orientation at Gale crater
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Wind abrasion is the dominant erosive process inferred from observations by Curiosity during its traverse in Gale crater, but how and how fast wind scours Mount Sharp is unclear. Here, we infer formative wind direction from ventifacts (wind-eroded rock fragments) measured from Curiosity 's recent traverse. We compare these measurements to previous ones and to wind model predictions, and attempt to estimate the current rate of wind erosion near Curiosity 's location on Mount Sharp. Ventifacts in this study indicate winds blowing south-southeast, agreeing with previous studies on the floor of Gale crater, but differing from studies at the base of the mountain slope. Upslope abrasive wind flows predominate, consistent with idealized models. At some sites, ventifacts are oriented both upslope and downslope on Mount Sharp, suggesting bimodal wind direction at the mountain, agreeing with circulation models that predict diurnal reversals. Using crater-retention age statistics at one site, we estimate a ∼ 3.5 ± 0.8 μm/Earth year (yr) upslope horizontal erosion rate at Mount Sharp. We suggest the observed ventifacts formed when Mars' obliquity and climate regime were similar to those in the present day.
Source: Icarus
Authors: Daniel Y. Zhou, Madison L. Turner, William Rapin, Juergen Schieber, Amelie L. Roberts, Aster C. Cowart, Megan E. Hoffman, Bernard Hallet, Steve G. Banham, Deirdra Fey, Kevin W. Lewis, Sanjeev Gupta, Claire E. Newman, Ashwin R. Vasavada, Cathy M. Weitz, William E. Dietrich, John A. Grant, Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras, Edwin S. Kite
Institutions: Langley Research Center, University of Chicago, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johns Hopkins University, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, Imperial College London, Planetary Science Institute, University of New Mexico, University of Washington, UCLouvain, Malin Space Science Systems (United States), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Stanford University, University of Ulster, Aeolis Research (United States), California Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, University of Maryland, College Park, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Centro de Astrobiología
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,810
Award: G715045291
OpenAlex ID: W4409605224