Saltation under Martian gravity and its influence on the global dust distribution
| dc.contributor.author | Musiolik, G. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kruss, M. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Demirci, T. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Schrinski, B. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Teiser, J. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Daerden, F. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Smith, M.D. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Neary, L. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Wurm, G. | |
| dc.date | 2018 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-02-07T12:15:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-02-07T12:15:14Z | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/6587 | |
| dc.description | Dust and sand motion are a common sight on Mars. Understanding the interaction of atmosphere and Martian soil is fundamental to describe the planet’s weather, climate and surface morphology. We set up a wind tunnel to study the lift of a mixture between very fine sand and dust in a Mars simulant soil. The experiments were carried out under Martian gravity in a parabolic flight. The reduced gravity was provided by a centrifuge under external microgravity. The onset of saltation was measured for a fluid threshold shear velocity of 0.82 ± 0.04 m/s. This is considerably lower than found under Earth gravity. In addition to a reduction in weight, this low threshold can be attributed to gravity dependent cohesive forces within the sand bed, which drop by 2/3 under Martian gravity. The new threshold for saltation leads to a simulation of the annual dust cycle with a Mars GCM that is in agreement with observations. | |
| dc.language | eng | |
| dc.title | Saltation under Martian gravity and its influence on the global dust distribution | |
| dc.type | Article | |
| dc.subject.frascati | Physical sciences | |
| dc.audience | Scientific | |
| dc.subject.free | Mars | |
| dc.subject.free | Saltation | |
| dc.subject.free | Microgravity experiments | |
| dc.subject.free | Cohesion | |
| dc.subject.free | General circulation model | |
| dc.source.title | Icarus | |
| dc.source.volume | 306 | |
| dc.source.page | 25-31 | |
| Orfeo.peerreviewed | Yes | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.1016/j.icarus.2018.01.007 |
