NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured two types of dunes on the Martian surface: barchan and linear. The former are the small dots and upwind, while linear can be seen as the downwind dunes.
These two types of dune each show the wind direction in different ways, with barchans boasting a steep slope and crescent-shaped “horns” that point downwind. Linear dunes are basically stretched out along the primary wind direction and typically indicate at least two different prevailing winds, which stretch out the sand along their average direction.
- Feed a passion for science and technology – Kids can learn more about the challenges of space exploration with this LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover...
- Conduct a test flight – This advanced building kit for kids ages 10 and up includes a buildable toy version of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which...
- AR brings the mission to life – The accompanying augmented reality app experience lets kids dive into the details of the rover and its mission
Barchan and linear dunes aren’t just a Martian phenomenon – we can also see them on Earth. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have snapped photos of them occurring in Brazil and Saudi Arabia,” said Monika Luabeya, NASA Web Editor.
[Source]
