In situ measurement of dust devil dynamics: Toward a strategy for Mars

David M. Tratt; Michael H. Hecht; David C. Catling; Eric C. Samulon; Peter H. Smith

doi:10.1029/2003je002161

In situ measurement of dust devil dynamics: Toward a strategy for Mars

David M. Tratt, Michael H. Hecht, David C. Catling, Eric C. Samulon, Peter H. Smith

Lunar and Planetary Lab

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

An intensive 3-day dust devil investigation was conducted near Eloy, Arizona, during June of 2001. The goal was to evaluate strategies for observing dust devils on Mars by studying the physics of terrestrial dust devils. As part of this campaign, an instrumented vehicle outfitted with wind, temperature, and pressure sensors was used to intercept and penetrate numerous dust devils. Defined analysis of meteorological fields was only possible with knowledge of the whole body motion of a dust devil. One such data set analyzed revealed a dust devil structure characterized by a tangential wind proportional to radius, r, inside the warm, low-pressure core of a dust devil, and proportional to r^-1/2 outside the core. We discuss the implications for optimum measurement strategies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2-1 - 2-7
Journal	Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume	108
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2003je002161
State	Published - Nov 25 2003

Keywords

Dust devils
In situ measurements
Rankine vortex model
Vortex dynamics
Vortex structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geochemistry and Petrology
Geophysics
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
Space and Planetary Science
Atmospheric Science
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Oceanography

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10.1029/2003je002161

Cite this

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title = "In situ measurement of dust devil dynamics: Toward a strategy for Mars",

abstract = "An intensive 3-day dust devil investigation was conducted near Eloy, Arizona, during June of 2001. The goal was to evaluate strategies for observing dust devils on Mars by studying the physics of terrestrial dust devils. As part of this campaign, an instrumented vehicle outfitted with wind, temperature, and pressure sensors was used to intercept and penetrate numerous dust devils. Defined analysis of meteorological fields was only possible with knowledge of the whole body motion of a dust devil. One such data set analyzed revealed a dust devil structure characterized by a tangential wind proportional to radius, r, inside the warm, low-pressure core of a dust devil, and proportional to r-1/2 outside the core. We discuss the implications for optimum measurement strategies.",

keywords = "Dust devils, In situ measurements, Rankine vortex model, Vortex dynamics, Vortex structure",

author = "Tratt, {David M.} and Hecht, {Michael H.} and Catling, {David C.} and Samulon, {Eric C.} and Smith, {Peter H.}",

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doi = "10.1029/2003je002161",

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T1 - In situ measurement of dust devil dynamics

T2 - Toward a strategy for Mars

AU - Tratt, David M.

AU - Hecht, Michael H.

AU - Catling, David C.

AU - Samulon, Eric C.

AU - Smith, Peter H.

PY - 2003/11/25

Y1 - 2003/11/25

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AB - An intensive 3-day dust devil investigation was conducted near Eloy, Arizona, during June of 2001. The goal was to evaluate strategies for observing dust devils on Mars by studying the physics of terrestrial dust devils. As part of this campaign, an instrumented vehicle outfitted with wind, temperature, and pressure sensors was used to intercept and penetrate numerous dust devils. Defined analysis of meteorological fields was only possible with knowledge of the whole body motion of a dust devil. One such data set analyzed revealed a dust devil structure characterized by a tangential wind proportional to radius, r, inside the warm, low-pressure core of a dust devil, and proportional to r-1/2 outside the core. We discuss the implications for optimum measurement strategies.

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KW - In situ measurements

KW - Rankine vortex model

KW - Vortex dynamics

KW - Vortex structure

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In situ measurement of dust devil dynamics: Toward a strategy for Mars

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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