EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Metzger et al. 1999
Metzger, S.M., Carr, J.R., Johnson, J.R., Parker, T.J. and Lemmon, M.T. (1999). Dust devil vortices seen by the Mars Pathfinder Camera. Geophysical Research Letters 26: doi: 10.1029/1999GL008341. issn: 0094-8276.

Discovery of dust devil vortices in Mars Pathfinder (MPF) images reveals a dust entrainment mechanism at work on Mars. Scattering of visible light by dust in the Martian atmosphere creates a pronounced haze, preventing conventional image processing from displaying dust plumes. Spectral differencing techniques have enhanced five localized dust plumes from the general haze in images acquired near midday, which we determine to be dust devils. Processing of 440 nm images highlights dust devils as distinct occultation features against the horizon. The dust devils are interpreted to be 14--79 m wide, 46--350 m tall, travel at 0.5--4.6 m/s, with dust loading of 7E-5 kg m-3, relative to the general haze of 9E-8 kg m-3, and total particulate transport of 2.2-700 kg. The vortices match predictions from terrestrial analog studies. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Boundary layer processes, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Land/atmosphere interactions, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Remote sensing, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Erosion and weathering
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit