Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies
We propose the hypothesis that dune gullies and seasonal “meteorological” appearances observed on the same dunes (e.g., frosting) may have a common origin. These gullies are difficult to explain through the action of liquid flow. The occurrence of a spring flowing from the crest of a dune seems impo...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Adriano Nardi Antonio Piersanti |
| author_facet | Adriano Nardi Antonio Piersanti |
| author_sort | Adriano Nardi |
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| description | We propose the hypothesis that dune gullies and seasonal “meteorological” appearances observed on the same dunes (e.g., frosting) may have a common origin. These gullies are difficult to explain through the action of liquid flow. The occurrence of a spring flowing from the crest of a dune seems impossible to explain. However, these phenomena could originate from the impact of wind on the profiles of some large Martian dunes. This aerodynamic effect could seasonally generate all the meteorological phenomena we observe on these dunes (bodies of ice, frost, moisture trails, and vapor clouds) and as a result, produce gullies with a peculiar morphology different from the standard. Thus, dune gullies could originate from meteorological liquids, but through a process unlike those known on Earth. Evidence from the Kaiser, Russell, and Korolev Craters supports the possibility of a partial water cycle (a half-cycle), potentially the remnant of a complete ancient cycle. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-93620e8dd2724ec0af22c512f0c51ccd2025-01-24T13:34:14ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-01-011512910.3390/geosciences15010029Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune GulliesAdriano Nardi0Antonio Piersanti1Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Roma 1, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Roma 1, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, ItalyWe propose the hypothesis that dune gullies and seasonal “meteorological” appearances observed on the same dunes (e.g., frosting) may have a common origin. These gullies are difficult to explain through the action of liquid flow. The occurrence of a spring flowing from the crest of a dune seems impossible to explain. However, these phenomena could originate from the impact of wind on the profiles of some large Martian dunes. This aerodynamic effect could seasonally generate all the meteorological phenomena we observe on these dunes (bodies of ice, frost, moisture trails, and vapor clouds) and as a result, produce gullies with a peculiar morphology different from the standard. Thus, dune gullies could originate from meteorological liquids, but through a process unlike those known on Earth. Evidence from the Kaiser, Russell, and Korolev Craters supports the possibility of a partial water cycle (a half-cycle), potentially the remnant of a complete ancient cycle.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/1/29Marsdunal gulliesweatherH<sub>2</sub>Otriple pointwater cycle |
| spellingShingle | Adriano Nardi Antonio Piersanti Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies Geosciences Mars dunal gullies weather H<sub>2</sub>O triple point water cycle |
| title | Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies |
| title_full | Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies |
| title_fullStr | Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies |
| title_short | Geomorphological Observations and Physical Hypotheses About Martian Dune Gullies |
| title_sort | geomorphological observations and physical hypotheses about martian dune gullies |
| topic | Mars dunal gullies weather H<sub>2</sub>O triple point water cycle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/1/29 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adrianonardi geomorphologicalobservationsandphysicalhypothesesaboutmartiandunegullies AT antoniopiersanti geomorphologicalobservationsandphysicalhypothesesaboutmartiandunegullies |