Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Mars Letters
  • Published:

Aeolian processes at the Mars Exploration Rover Meridiani Planum landing site

Nature volume 436, pages 58–61 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The martian surface is a natural laboratory for testing our understanding of the physics of aeolian (wind-related) processes in an environment different from that of Earth. Martian surface markings and atmospheric opacity are time-variable, indicating that fine particles at the surface are mobilized regularly by wind1,2,3. Regolith (unconsolidated surface material) at the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's landing site has been affected greatly by wind, which has created and reoriented bedforms, sorted grains, and eroded bedrock. Aeolian features here preserve a unique record of changing wind direction and wind strength. Here we present an in situ examination of a martian bright wind streak, which provides evidence consistent with a previously proposed formational model4,5 for such features. We also show that a widely used criterion for distinguishing between aeolian saltation- and suspension-dominated grain behaviour is different on Mars, and that estimated wind friction speeds between 2 and 3 m s-1, most recently from the northwest, are associated with recent global dust storms, providing ground truth for climate model predictions.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Bright wind streaks on Meridiani Planum.
Figure 2: Bedforms and ventifacts at Meridiani Planum.
Figure 3: Orientations of rock tails, plains ripples, basaltic sand ripples on the floor of Eagle crater, and the Eagle crater bright wind streak.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Martin, L. J. & Zurek, R. W. An analysis of the history of dust activity on Mars. J. Geophys. Res. 98, 3221–3246 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Greeley, R., Lancaster, N., Lee, S. & Thomas, P. in Mars (eds Kieffer, H., Jakosky, B., Snyder, C. & Matthews, M. U.) 730–766 (Arizona Press, Tucson, 1992)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cantor, B. A., James, P. B., Caplinger, M. & Wolfe, M. J. Martian dust storms: 1999 Mars Orbiter Camera observations. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 23653–23687 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Veverka, J., Gierasch, P. & Thomas, P. Wind streaks on Mars: meteorological control of occurrence and mode of formation. Icarus 45, 154–166 (1981)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Thomas, P., Veverka, J., Gineris, D. & Wong, L. Dust streaks on Mars. Icarus 60, 161–179 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sagan, C. et al. Variable features on Mars. 2. Mariner 9 global results. J. Geophys. Res. 78, 4163–4196 (1973)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Arvidson, R. E. Wind-blown streaks, splotches, and associated craters on Mars: Statistical analysis of Mariner 9 photographs. Icarus 21, 12–27 (1974)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Thomas, P. C., Veverka, J., Lee, S. & Bloom, A. Classification of wind streaks on Mars. Icarus 45, 124–153 (1981)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Greeley, R. & Thompson, S. D. Mars: Aeolian features and wind predictions at the Terra Meridiani and Isidis Planitia potential Mars Exploration Rover landing sites. J. Geophys. Res. 108(E12), doi:10.1029/2003JE002110 (2003)

  10. Greeley, R. Wind tunnel simulations of light and dark streaks on Mars. Science 183, 847–849 (1974)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bell, J. F. III, McCord, T. B. & Owensby, P. D. Observational evidence of crystalline iron oxides on Mars. J. Geophys. Res. 95, 14447–14461 (1990)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Klingelhöfer, G. et al. Jarosite and hematite at Meridiani Planum from Opportunity's Mössbauer spectrometer. Science 306, 1740–1745 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rieder, R. et al. Chemistry of rocks and soils at Meridiani Planum from the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer. Science 306, 1746–1749 (2004)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yen, A. et al. An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils. Nature doi:10.1038/nature03637 (this issue)

  15. Sagan, C. & Bagnold, R. A. Fluid transport on Earth and aeolian transport on Mars. Icarus 26, 209–218 (1975)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Iversen, J. D., Greeley, R. & Pollack, J. B. Windblown dust on Earth, Mars, and Venus. J. Atmos. Sci. 33, 2425–2429 (1976)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Greeley, R. & Iversen, J. D. Wind as a Geological Process 68–71 (Cambridge Univ. Press, Oxford, 1985)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Tsoar, H. & Pye, K. Dust transport and the question of desert loess formation. Sedimentology 34, 139–153 (1987)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Edgett, K. S. & Christensen, P. R. The particle size of martian aeolian dunes. J. Geophys. Res. 96, 22765–22776 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Goossens, D. Aeolian dust ripples: Their occurrence, morphometrical characteristics, dynamics and origin. Catena 18, 379–407 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Greeley, R. et al. Rate of wind abrasion on Mars. J. Geophys. Res. 87, 10009–10024 (1982)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Arvidson, R. E. et al. Localization and physical properties experiments conducted by Opportunity at Meridiani Planum. Science 306, 1730–1733 (2004)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Soderblom, L. A. et al. Soils of Eagle Crater and Meridiani Planum at the Opportunity rover landing site. Science 306, 1723–1726 (2004)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gillette, D. A. & Stockton, P. H. The effect of nonerodible particles on wind erosion of erodible surfaces. J. Geophys. Res. 94, 12885–12893 (1989)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nickling, W. G. & McKenna Neuman, C. Development of deflation lag surfaces. Sedimentology 42, 403–414 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Iversen, J. D. & White, B. R. Saltation threshold on Earth, Mars and Venus. Sedimentology 29, 111–119 (1982)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. White, B. R., Lacchia, B. M., Greeley, R. & Leach, R. N. Aeolian behaviour of dust in a simulated Martian environment. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 25629–25640 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Herkenhoff, K. et al. Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for water on Meridiani Planum. Science 306, 1727–1730 (2004)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was performed for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We are grateful for the efforts of the Mars Exploration Rover development and operations teams that made this work possible. We acknowledge the use of Mars Orbiter Camera images processed by Malin Space Science Systems that are available at http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/. Authors Contributions J.F.B. and W.C. provided Pancam and MiniTES analyses, respectively, of bright streak material. W.A.W. measured all rock tails. D.F. discovered the time dependence of wind streak orientations in MOC images. D.M. reviewed the APXS linear mixing work of R.S. R.S. also measured the ripple orientations, calculated u*t and u values, worked out the aeolian history of the site, identified the discrepancy between particle size of basaltic ripples and uF/u*t ratio, and drafted the original and revised manuscripts. D.J. contributed key points relating to deflation at the site. R.S., D.J. and D.B. worked on potential explanations for the low uF/u*t ratio mobility of the basaltic sand. L.A.S. led the Science Operations Working Group during the bright streak rover operations. A.Y. advised on APXS calibration issues. All authors, particularly M.M., provided significant scientific guidance and/or editorial inputs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy/CRSR, Cornell University, New York, 14853, Ithaca, USA

    R. Sullivan, D. Banfield, J. F. Bell III & S. W. Squyres

  2. Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, 89557, Nevada, USA

    W. Calvin

  3. Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, 02139, Cambridge, USA

    D. Fike, J. Grotzinger, D. Jerolmack & W. A. Watters

  4. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California, 90119, Pasadena, USA

    M. Golombek & A. Yen

  5. Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Arizona, 85287-1404, Tempe, USA

    R. Greeley & S. Thompson

  6. US Geological Survey, Arizona, 86001, Flagstaff, USA

    K. Herkenhoff & L. A. Soderblom

  7. Malin Space Science Systems, California, 92191, San Diego, USA

    M. Malin

  8. NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas, 77058, Houston, USA

    D. Ming

  9. Planetary Science Institute, Arizona, 85719, Tucson, USA

    C. M. Weitz

Authors
  1. R. Sullivan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Banfield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. F. Bell III
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. Calvin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. Fike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Golombek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. Greeley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. Grotzinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. K. Herkenhoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. D. Jerolmack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M. Malin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. D. Ming
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. L. A. Soderblom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. S. W. Squyres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. S. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. W. A. Watters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. C. M. Weitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. A. Yen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Sullivan.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Reprints and permissions information is available at npg.nature.com/reprintsandpermissions. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sullivan, R., Banfield, D., Bell, J. et al. Aeolian processes at the Mars Exploration Rover Meridiani Planum landing site. Nature 436, 58–61 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03641

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03641

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing