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Dust devils on Mars observed by the High Resolution Stereo Camera
Author(s) -
Stanzel Christina,
Pätzold Martin,
Greeley Ronald,
Hauber Ernst,
Neukum Gerhard
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl025816
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , martian , astrobiology , martian surface , geology , high resolution , stereo camera , wind speed , atmosphere of mars , environmental science , remote sensing , atmospheric sciences , physics , computer science , computer graphics (images) , oceanography
Fourteen active dust devils were observed by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on Mars Express, which enable the first analysis of the forward speed of dust devils on Mars determined from orbit. Results show speeds on the order of 20 m/s, which compares favorably with values of the wind profiles estimated from the Martian Climate Database for higher altitudes. Smaller dust devils of 1 km height and very small diameters were found moving only at 1.5 to 6.0 m/s in agreement with surface wind speeds.