[1] The blowing of sand by wind, known as saltation, ejects dust aerosols into the atmosphere, creates sand dunes, and erodes geological features. We present a comprehensive numerical model of steady state saltation (COMSALT) that, in contrast to most previous studies, can reproduce a wide range of measurements and can simulate saltation over mixed soils. COMSALT calculates the motion of saltating particles due to gravity, fluid drag, particle spin, fluid shear, and turbulence and explicitly accounts for the retardation of the wind due to drag from saltating particles. Furthermore, we included a novel physically based parameterization of the ejection of surface particles by impacting saltating particles which matches experimental results. COMSALT is the first numerical saltation model to reproduce measurements of the wind shear velocity at the impact threshold (i.e., the lowest shear velocity for which saltation is possible) and of the aerodynamic roughness length in saltation. It also reproduces a range of other saltation processes, including profiles of the wind speed and particle mass flux, and the size distribution of saltating particles. As such, COMSALT is the first physically based numerical model to reproduce such a wide range of experimental data. Since we use a minimum of empirical relations, COMSALT can be easily adapted to study saltation under a variety of physical conditions, such as saltation on other planets, saltation under water, and saltating snow.

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/95613/jgrd15469.pdf;sequence=1

A comprehensive numerical model of steady state saltation (COMSALT)

The early development of life, a fundamental question for humankind, requires the presence of a suitable planetary climate. Our understanding of how habitable planets come to be begins with the worlds closest to home. Venus, Earth, and Mars differ only modestly in their mass and distance from the Sun, yet their current climates could scarcely be more divergent. Only Earth has abundant liquid water, Venus has a runaway greenhouse, and evidence for life-supporting conditions on Mars points to a bygone era. In addition, an Earth-like hydrologic cycle has been revealed in a surprising place: Saturn's cloud-covered satellite Titan has liquid hydrocarbon rain, lakes, and river networks. Deducing the initial conditions for these diverse worlds and unravelling how and why they diverged to their current climates is a challenge at the forefront of planetary science. Through the contributions of more than sixty leading experts in the field, Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets sets forth the foundations for this emerging new science and brings the reader to the forefront of our current understanding of atmospheric formation and climate evolution. Particular emphasis is given to surface-atmosphere interactions, evolving stellar flux, mantle processes, photochemistry, and interactions with the interplanetary environment, all of which influence the climatology of terrestrial planets. From this cornerstone, both current professionals and most especially new students are brought to the threshold, enabling the next generation of new advances in our own solar system and beyond.

Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets

The planetary boundary layer (PBL) represents the part of the atmosphere that is strongly influenced by the presence of the underlying surface and mediates the key interactions between the atmosphere and the surface. On Mars, this represents the lowest 10 km of the atmosphere during the daytime. This portion of the atmosphere is extremely important, both scientifically and operationally, because it is the region within which surface lander spacecraft must operate and also determines exchanges of heat, momentum, dust, water, and other tracers between surface and subsurface reservoirs and the free atmosphere. To date, this region of the atmosphere has been studied directly, by instrumented lander spacecraft, and from orbital remote sensing, though not to the extent that is necessary to fully constrain its character and behavior. Current data strongly suggest that as for the Earth's PBL, classical Monin-Obukhov similarity theory applies reasonably well to the Martian PBL under most conditions, though with some intriguing differences relating to the lower atmospheric density at the Martian surface and the likely greater role of direct radiative heating of the atmosphere within the PBL itself. Most of the modeling techniques used for the PBL on Earth are also being applied to the Martian PBL, including novel uses of very high resolution large eddy simulation methods. We conclude with those aspects of the PBL that require new measurements in order to constrain models and discuss the extent to which anticipated missions to Mars in the near future will fulfill these requirements.

/pdf/the-martian-atmospheric-boundary-layer-4uh1ona5dd.pdf

The martian atmospheric boundary layer

[1] A multiyear, planet-wide survey of Martian dust devils was conducted using observations from Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera, acquired through 21 January 2006. A total of 223,350 images were surveyed and 11,456 dust devils were seen in 0.4% of the images, 11.5% in the Southern and 88.5% in the Northern Hemisphere. Dust devils were observed at latitudes from 71.9°S to 62.2°N, over a range of surface albedos (Am∼0.11–0.22) and elevations from Hellas (−8750 m) to Arsia Mons (+17,250 m). The light- and dark-toned streaks created by dust devils were observed from 80°S to 80°N and changed on timescales as short as 1 month. At mid-to-high latitudes, seasonal changes in streak patterns contribute to the seasonal “wave of darkening” observed telescopically from Earth. Dust devils were observed in all seasons in both hemispheres with the exception of Ls = 202.8°–281.5° in the north. Peak activity occurred during midsummer in each hemisphere. Five regions in Amazonis, Syria-Claritas, Meridiani, and Gusev were monitored regularly. Amazonis had the largest dust devils and was the most active planet-wide, with annual activity occurring from Ls∼8.5°–197°. Interannual variability resulted from dust storms and planet-encircling dust hazes, which were observed to initiate and abate dust devil activity. There was no evidence suggesting dust devils cause or lead to initiation of dust storms. Model-derived tangential wind speeds of large vortices were >20 m s−1 at 20 m above the surface. Dust flux calculations suggest that dust devils are a contributor to the background dust opacity observed through northern spring and summer.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2006JE002700

Mars Orbiter Camera observations of Martian dust devils and their tracks (September 1997 to January 2006) and evaluation of theoretical vortex models

[1] The Phoenix Mars Lander detected a larger number of short (∼20 s) pressure drops that probably indicate the passage of convective vortices or dust devils. Near-continuous pressure measurements have allowed for monitoring the frequency of these events, and data from other instruments and orbiting spacecraft give information on how these pressure events relate to the seasons and weather phenomena at the Phoenix landing site. Here 502 vortices were identified with a pressure drop larger than 0.3 Pa occurring in the 151 sol mission (Ls 76 to 148). The diurnal distributions show a peak in convective vortices around noon, agreeing with current theory and previous observations. The few events detected at night might have been mechanically forced by turbulent eddies caused by the nearby Heimdal crater. A general increase with major peaks in the convective vortex activity occurs during the mission, around Ls = 111. This correlates with changes in midsol surface heat flux, increasing wind speeds at the landing site, and increases in vortex density. Comparisons with orbiter imaging show that in contrast to the lower latitudes on Mars, the dust devil activity at the Phoenix landing site is influenced more by active weather events passing by the area than by local forcing.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2009JE003413

Convective vortices and dust devils at the Phoenix Mars mission landing site

[1] Recent research suggests that mineral dust plays an important role in terrestrial weather and climate, not only by altering the atmospheric radiation budget, but also by affecting cloud microphysics and optical properties. In addition, dust transport and related Aeolian processes have been substantially modifying the surface of Mars. Dusty convective plumes and dust devils are frequently observed in terrestrial deserts and are ubiquitous features of the Martian landscape. There is evidence that they are important sources of atmospheric dust on both planets. Many studies have shown that on a small scale, dust sourcing is sensitive to a large number of factors, such as soil cover, physical characteristics, composition, topography, and weather. We have been doing comparative studies of dust events on Earth and Mars in order to shed light on important physical processes of the weather and climate of both planets. Our 2002 field campaign showed that terrestrial dust devils produce heat and dust fluxes two and five orders of magnitude larger than their background values. It also showed that charge separation within terrestrial dust devils produces strong electric fields that might play a significant role in dust sourcing. Since Martian dust devils and dust storms are stronger and larger than terrestrial events, they probably produce even stronger fluxes and electric fields.

/pdf/matador-2002-a-pilot-field-experiment-on-convective-plumes-3pjxo0qq4o.pdf

MATADOR 2002: A pilot field experiment on convective plumes and dust devils

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MATADOR 2002: A pilot field experiment on convective plumes and dust devils