Wind Streaks on Venus: Clues to Atmospheric Circulation

• DOI: 10.1126/science.263.5145.358
• Publication Date: 2006-10-06T00:01:25Z
• Authors: Ronald Greeley; Gerald Schubert; Daniel Limonadi; Kelly C. Bender; William I. Newman; Peggy E. Thomas; Catherine M. Weitz; Stephen D. Wall
• Keywords: Hadley cell; Streak; Atmospheric Circulation; Global wind patterns; Atmosphere of Venus

Magellan images reveal surface features on Venus attributed to wind processes. Sand dunes, wind-sculpted hills, and more than 5830 streaks have been identified. The serve as local "wind vanes," representing direction at the time of streak formation allowing first global mapping near-surface patterns Venus. Wind are oriented both toward equator west. When associated with transient events, such impact cratering, deleted, westward component is mostly lost but equatorward remains. This pattern consistent a Hadley circulation lower atmosphere.