Speaker
Description
Although Mars is the best explored planet (except Earth) in the Solar System, there are few results from direct measurements of wind parameters on the surface of Mars. However, because wind can interact with loose sediment, it is possible to infer the wind direction from observations of aeolian (wind-related) landforms. It is crucial to distinguish between landforms that show some changes with respect to the season of the year and those that do not show any activity. The former are shaped by current winds and they are called active bedforms, while the latter are related to past winds. Visible from orbit aeolian landforms on the surface of Meridiani Planum include: wind streaks (darker or brighter than surrounding terrains), coarse-grained ripple fields, and large dark dunes. Only wind streaks are active, and their orientation is usually distinct from all other mentioned landforms. It suggests that current wind patterns are different from those of the past.
The work was funded by the Anthropocene Priority Research Area budget under the program "Excellence Initiative – Research University" at the Jagiellonian University.
| Field | Geography and Geology |
|---|---|
| Length | Short 15 min |