Bright dunes on mars

P. C. Thomas; M. C. Malin; M. H. Carr; G. E. Danielson; M. E. Davies; W. K. Hartmann; A. P. Ingersoll; P. B. James; A. S. McEwen; L. A. Soderblom; J. Veverka

doi:10.1038/17557

Bright dunes on mars

P. C. Thomas, M. C. Malin, M. H. Carr, G. E. Danielson, M. E. Davies, W. K. Hartmann, A. P. Ingersoll, P. B. James, A. S. McEwen, L. A. Soderblom, J. Veverka

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Abstract

Seasonal changes observed on the surface of Mars can in part be attributed to the transport of geological materials by wind. Images obtained by orbiting spacecraft in the 1970s showed large wind-formed features such as dunes, and revealed regional time-varying albedos that could be attributed to the effects of dust erosion and deposition. But the resolution of these images was insufficient to identify different types and sources of aeolian materials, nor could they reveal aeolian deposits other than large dunes or extensive surface coverings that were redistributed by dust storms. Here we present images of Mars with up to 50 times better resolution. These images show that martian dunes include at least two distinct components, the brighter of which we interpret to be composed of relatively soft minerals, possibly sulphates. We also find large areas of the martian surface that have several metres or more of aeolian mantle lacking obvious bedforms.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	592-594
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nature
Volume	397
Issue number	6720
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/17557
State	Published - Feb 18 1999

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title = "Bright dunes on mars",

abstract = "Seasonal changes observed on the surface of Mars can in part be attributed to the transport of geological materials by wind. Images obtained by orbiting spacecraft in the 1970s showed large wind-formed features such as dunes, and revealed regional time-varying albedos that could be attributed to the effects of dust erosion and deposition. But the resolution of these images was insufficient to identify different types and sources of aeolian materials, nor could they reveal aeolian deposits other than large dunes or extensive surface coverings that were redistributed by dust storms. Here we present images of Mars with up to 50 times better resolution. These images show that martian dunes include at least two distinct components, the brighter of which we interpret to be composed of relatively soft minerals, possibly sulphates. We also find large areas of the martian surface that have several metres or more of aeolian mantle lacking obvious bedforms.",

author = "Thomas, {P. C.} and Malin, {M. C.} and Carr, {M. H.} and Danielson, {G. E.} and Davies, {M. E.} and Hartmann, {W. K.} and Ingersoll, {A. P.} and James, {P. B.} and McEwen, {A. S.} and Soderblom, {L. A.} and J. Veverka",

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AU - Thomas, P. C.

AU - Malin, M. C.

AU - Carr, M. H.

AU - Danielson, G. E.

AU - Davies, M. E.

AU - Hartmann, W. K.

AU - Ingersoll, A. P.

AU - James, P. B.

AU - McEwen, A. S.

AU - Soderblom, L. A.

AU - Veverka, J.

PY - 1999/2/18

Y1 - 1999/2/18

N2 - Seasonal changes observed on the surface of Mars can in part be attributed to the transport of geological materials by wind. Images obtained by orbiting spacecraft in the 1970s showed large wind-formed features such as dunes, and revealed regional time-varying albedos that could be attributed to the effects of dust erosion and deposition. But the resolution of these images was insufficient to identify different types and sources of aeolian materials, nor could they reveal aeolian deposits other than large dunes or extensive surface coverings that were redistributed by dust storms. Here we present images of Mars with up to 50 times better resolution. These images show that martian dunes include at least two distinct components, the brighter of which we interpret to be composed of relatively soft minerals, possibly sulphates. We also find large areas of the martian surface that have several metres or more of aeolian mantle lacking obvious bedforms.

AB - Seasonal changes observed on the surface of Mars can in part be attributed to the transport of geological materials by wind. Images obtained by orbiting spacecraft in the 1970s showed large wind-formed features such as dunes, and revealed regional time-varying albedos that could be attributed to the effects of dust erosion and deposition. But the resolution of these images was insufficient to identify different types and sources of aeolian materials, nor could they reveal aeolian deposits other than large dunes or extensive surface coverings that were redistributed by dust storms. Here we present images of Mars with up to 50 times better resolution. These images show that martian dunes include at least two distinct components, the brighter of which we interpret to be composed of relatively soft minerals, possibly sulphates. We also find large areas of the martian surface that have several metres or more of aeolian mantle lacking obvious bedforms.

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Bright dunes on mars

Abstract

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