Field Measurements of Terrestrial and Martian Dust Devils
Journal
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Murphy, Jim
•
Steakley, Kathryn
•
Balme, Matt
•
Deprez, Gregoire
•
•
Kahanpää, Henrik
•
Lemmon, Mark
•
Lorenz, Ralph
•
Murdoch, Naomi
•
Neakrase, Lynn
•
Patel, Manish
•
Whelley, Patrick
Abstract
Surface-based measurements of terrestrial and martian dust devils/convective vortices provided from mobile and stationary platforms are discussed. Imaging of terrestrial dust devils has quantified their rotational and vertical wind speeds, translation speeds, dimensions, dust load, and frequency of occurrence. Imaging of martian dust devils has provided translation speeds and constraints on dimensions, but only limited constraints on vertical motion within a vortex. The longer mission durations on Mars afforded by long operating robotic landers and rovers have provided statistical quantification of vortex occurrence (time-of-sol, and recently seasonal) that has until recently not been a primary outcome of more temporally limited terrestrial dust devil measurement campaigns. Terrestrial measurement campaigns have included a more extensive range of measured vortex parameters (pressure, wind, morphology, etc.) than have martian opportunities, with electric field and direct measure of dust abundance not yet obtained on Mars. No martian robotic mission has yet provided contemporaneous high frequency wind and pressure measurements. Comparison of measured terrestrial and martian dust devil characteristics suggests that martian dust devils are larger and possess faster maximum rotational wind speeds, that the absolute magnitude of the pressure deficit within a terrestrial dust devil is an order of magnitude greater than a martian dust devil, and that the time-of-day variation in vortex frequency is similar. Recent terrestrial investigations have demonstrated the presence of diagnostic dust devil signals within seismic and infrasound measurements; an upcoming Mars robotic mission will obtain similar measurement types.
Volume
203
Issue
1-4
Start page
39
Issn Identifier
0038-6308
Ads BibCode
2016SSRv..203...39M
Rights
open.access
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