Formation and Stabilization of Coarse Grain-Mantled Megaripples on Earth and Mars: Insights from the Argentinean Puna and Wind Tunnel Experiments

BRIDGES, N.T.; SPAGNUOLO, M.G.; DE SILVA, S.L.; ZIMBELMAN, J.R.; NEELY, E. M.

Congreso; Lunar and Planetary Science Conference; 2015

The Martian surface contains a diversity of aeolian landforms, attesting to the effectivenessof wind as a major geomorphic agent despite the lower atmospheric pressure, gravity, andfrequency of threshold winds compared to Earth. Martian ?Transverse AeolianRidges?(TARs) have sizes and morphometric properties intermediate between dunes andripples. They have been proposed as large megaripples formed via impact splash andcreep, reversing dunes, or both [1-3].