scholarly journals Vortex‐dominated aeolian activity at InSight's landing site, Part 1: Multi‐instrument Observations, Analysis and Implications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Charalambous ◽  
B. McClean J. ◽  
M. Baker ◽  
W. T. Pike ◽  
M. Golombek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landing Site ◽  
Aeolian Activity

Aeolian Changes at the Insight Landing Site on Mars: Multi-instrument Observations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantinos Charalambous ◽  
Mariah Baker ◽  
Matthew Golombek ◽  
John McClean ◽  
Tom Pike ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transport ◽  
Local Time ◽  
Particle Motion ◽  
Landing Site ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Simultaneous Measurements ◽  
Aeolian Activity ◽  
Wind Activity ◽  
Convective Vortices ◽  
Instrument Package

<p>The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission landed in western Elysium Planitia on November 26, 2018. Because of its stationary position and a multi-instrument package, InSight offers the unique opportunity of detecting changes induced by aeolian activity and constraining the atmospheric conditions responsible for particle motion.</p><p>In this work, we present the most significant changes from aeolian activity as detected by the InSight lander during its first 400 Martian days of operations. We will show that particle entrainment by wind activity around InSight is a subtle process and report simultaneous measurements observed across multiple instruments. The changes observed are episodic and are seen correlated with excursions in both seismic and magnetic signals, which will be discussed further. Our observations show that all aeolian movements are consistent with the passage of deep convective vortices between noon to 3 pm local time. These vortices may be the primary initiators for aeolian transportation at InSight, inducing episodic particulate motion of grains up to 3 mm in diameter.</p>

scholarly journals Multi-model Meteorological and Aeolian Predictions for Mars 2020 and the Jezero Crater Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 217 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Newman ◽  
M. de la Torre Juárez ◽  
J. Pla-García ◽  
R. J. Wilson ◽  
S. R. Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landing Site ◽  
Atmospheric Temperature ◽  
Sand Transport ◽  
Maximum Pressure ◽  
Summer Solstice ◽  
Winter Solstice ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Global Circulation ◽  
Aeolian Activity

AbstractNine simulations are used to predict the meteorology and aeolian activity of the Mars 2020 landing site region. Predicted seasonal variations of pressure and surface and atmospheric temperature generally agree. Minimum and maximum pressure is predicted at $\text{Ls}\sim 145^{\circ}$ Ls ∼ 145 ∘ and $250^{\circ}$ 250 ∘ , respectively. Maximum and minimum surface and atmospheric temperature are predicted at $\text{Ls}\sim 180^{\circ}$ Ls ∼ 180 ∘ and $270^{\circ}$ 270 ∘ , respectively; i.e., are warmest at northern fall equinox not summer solstice. Daily pressure cycles vary more between simulations, possibly due to differences in atmospheric dust distributions. Jezero crater sits inside and close to the NW rim of the huge Isidis basin, whose daytime upslope (∼east-southeasterly) and nighttime downslope (∼northwesterly) winds are predicted to dominate except around summer solstice, when the global circulation produces more southerly wind directions. Wind predictions vary hugely, with annual maximum speeds varying from 11 to $19~\text{ms}^{-1}$ 19 ms − 1 and daily mean wind speeds peaking in the first half of summer for most simulations but in the second half of the year for two. Most simulations predict net annual sand transport toward the WNW, which is generally consistent with aeolian observations, and peak sand fluxes in the first half of summer, with the weakest fluxes around winter solstice due to opposition between the global circulation and daytime upslope winds. However, one simulation predicts transport toward the NW, while another predicts fluxes peaking later and transport toward the WSW. Vortex activity is predicted to peak in summer and dip around winter solstice, and to be greater than at InSight and much greater than in Gale crater.

Apollo 12 landing site; EVA photographic station

1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.M. Batson ◽  
K.B. Larson ◽  
V.S. Reed ◽  
R.L. Tyner
Keyword(s):  
Landing Site
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