Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars

Pollack, J.B. ; Haberle, R. ; Greeley, R. ; Iversen, J.

Amsterdam : Elsevier
ISSN:
0019-1035
Source:
Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002
Topics:
Physics
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
_version_ 1798290859871961088
autor Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
autorsonst Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
book_url http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(76)90141-X
datenlieferant nat_lic_papers
fussnote We have obtained estimates of the threshold wind speed V"g"t near the top of the atmospheric boundary layer on Mars and of the rotation angle α between this wind velocity and the direction of the surface stress. this calculation has been accomplished by combining wind tunnel determinations of the friction velocity with semi-empirical theories of the Earth's atmospheric boundary layer. Calculations have been performed for a variety of values of the surface pressure, ground temperature, roughness height, boundary layer height, atmospheric composition atmospheric stability, particle density, particle diameter, and strength of the cohesive force between the particles.The curve of threshold wind speed as a function of particle diameter monotonically decreases with decreasing particle diameter for a cohesionless soil but has the classical U shape for a soil with cohesion. Observational data indicate that the latter condition holds on Mars. Under ''favorable'' conditions minimum threshold wind speeds between about 50 and 100m/sec are required to cause particle motion. These minimum values lie close to the highest wind speeds predicted by general circulation models. Hence, particle motion should be an infrequent occurence and should be strongly correlated with nearness to small topographic features. The latter prediction is in accord with the correlation found between albedo markings and topographic obstacles such as craters. For equal wind speeds at the midpoint of the boundary layer, particle movement occurs more readily in general at night than during the day, more readily in the winter polar areas than the equatorial areas noon, and more readily for ice particles than for silicate particles.The boundary between saltating and suspendable particles is located at a particle diameter of about 100 μm. This value is close to the diameter at which the V"g"t curve has its minimum. Hence, the wind can set directly into motion both saltating and larger-sized suspendable particles, but dust-storm-sized particles usually require impact by a saltating particle for motion to be initiated. Albedo changes occur most often in regions containing a mixture of dust-stoorm-sized particles and saltating particles. The threshold wind speed for surfaces containing large, nonerodible roughness elements can either be larger or smaller than the value for surfaces with only erodible material. The former condition for V"g"t holds when the roughness height z"0 is less than about 1 cm and may be illustrated by craters that have experienced less erosion than their environs. The latter condition for V"g"t may be partly responsible for albedo changes detected on the elevated shield volcano, Pavonis Mons. Values of the angle α generally lie between 10 and 30^o. These figures place a modest limitation on the utility of surface albedo streaks as wind direction indicators.
hauptsatz hsatz_simple
identnr NLZ18042002X
issn 0019-1035
journal_name Icarus
materialart 1
package_name Elsevier
publikationsort Amsterdam
publisher Elsevier
reference 29 (1976), S. 395-417
search_space articles
shingle_author_1 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
shingle_author_2 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
shingle_author_3 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
shingle_author_4 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
shingle_catch_all_1 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
0019-1035
00191035
Elsevier
shingle_catch_all_2 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
0019-1035
00191035
Elsevier
shingle_catch_all_3 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
0019-1035
00191035
Elsevier
shingle_catch_all_4 Pollack, J.B.
Haberle, R.
Greeley, R.
Iversen, J.
Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
0019-1035
00191035
Elsevier
shingle_title_1 Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
shingle_title_2 Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
shingle_title_3 Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
shingle_title_4 Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
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source_archive Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002
timestamp 2024-05-06T08:23:26.217Z
titel Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
titel_suche Estimates of the wind speeds required for particle motion on Mars
We have obtained estimates of the threshold wind speed V"g"t near the top of the atmospheric boundary layer on Mars and of the rotation angle α between this wind velocity and the direction of the surface stress. this calculation has been accomplished by combining wind tunnel determinations of the friction velocity with semi-empirical theories of the Earth's atmospheric boundary layer. Calculations have been performed for a variety of values of the surface pressure, ground temperature, roughness height, boundary layer height, atmospheric composition atmospheric stability, particle density, particle diameter, and strength of the cohesive force between the particles.The curve of threshold wind speed as a function of particle diameter monotonically decreases with decreasing particle diameter for a cohesionless soil but has the classical U shape for a soil with cohesion. Observational data indicate that the latter condition holds on Mars. Under ''favorable'' conditions minimum threshold wind speeds between about 50 and 100m/sec are required to cause particle motion. These minimum values lie close to the highest wind speeds predicted by general circulation models. Hence, particle motion should be an infrequent occurence and should be strongly correlated with nearness to small topographic features. The latter prediction is in accord with the correlation found between albedo markings and topographic obstacles such as craters. For equal wind speeds at the midpoint of the boundary layer, particle movement occurs more readily in general at night than during the day, more readily in the winter polar areas than the equatorial areas noon, and more readily for ice particles than for silicate particles.The boundary between saltating and suspendable particles is located at a particle diameter of about 100 μm. This value is close to the diameter at which the V"g"t curve has its minimum. Hence, the wind can set directly into motion both saltating and larger-sized suspendable particles, but dust-storm-sized particles usually require impact by a saltating particle for motion to be initiated. Albedo changes occur most often in regions containing a mixture of dust-stoorm-sized particles and saltating particles. The threshold wind speed for surfaces containing large, nonerodible roughness elements can either be larger or smaller than the value for surfaces with only erodible material. The former condition for V"g"t holds when the roughness height z"0 is less than about 1 cm and may be illustrated by craters that have experienced less erosion than their environs. The latter condition for V"g"t may be partly responsible for albedo changes detected on the elevated shield volcano, Pavonis Mons. Values of the angle α generally lie between 10 and 30^o. These figures place a modest limitation on the utility of surface albedo streaks as wind direction indicators.
topic U
uid nat_lic_papers_NLZ18042002X