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Transport of venusian rolling ‘stones’ by wind?

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Abstract

Speculation that aeolian processes operate on Venus1,2 has been confirmed tentatively by analyses of results from Venera spacecraft3–5. Here we describe simulations of venusian wind processes, which show that particles are moved by ‘rolling’ at wind speeds as much as 30% lower than those required for saltation threshold. This mode of wind transport is only observed for sustained periods in water on Earth; thus, there are similarities between aqueous fluid transport on Earth and atmospheric transport on Venus. The formation of small sand ridges and grooves oriented parallel to the wind direction is associated with the rolling of grains in venusian simulations and these structures may be unique aeolian features on Venus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA

    Ronald Greeley & John R. Marshall

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  1. Ronald Greeley
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  2. John R. Marshall
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Greeley, R., Marshall, J. Transport of venusian rolling ‘stones’ by wind?. Nature 313, 771–773 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/313771a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/313771a0

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