Wind-Related Processes Detected by the Spirit Rover at Gusev Crater, Mars

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1100108
• Publication Date: 2004-08-05T20:18:15Z
• Authors: R. Greeley; S. W. Squyres; R. E. Arvidson; P. Bartlett; J. F. Bell; D. Blaney; N. A. Cabrol; J. Farmer; B. Farrand; M. P. Golombek; S. P. Gorevan; J. A. Grant; A. F. C. Haldemann; K. E. Herkenhoff; J. Johnson; G. Landis; M. B. Madsen; S. M. McLennan; J. Moersch; J. W. Rice; L. Richter; S. Ruff; R. J. Sullivan; S. D. Thompson; A. Wang; C. M. Weitz; P. Whelley
• Keywords: Spirit Rover; Extraterrestrial Environment; 13. Climate action; 0103 physical sciences; Mars; Wind; Evolution, Planetary; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Wind-abraded rocks, ripples, drifts, and other deposits of windblown sediments are seen at the Columbia Memorial Station where Spirit rover landed. Orientations these features suggest formative winds from north-northwest, consistent with predictions atmospheric models afternoon in Gusev Crater. Cuttings Rock Abrasion Tool asymmetrically distributed toward south-southeast, suggesting active north-northwest time (midday) abrasion operations. Characteristics some such as a two-toned appearance, that they were possibly buried exhumed on order 5 to 60 centimeters by wind deflation, depending location.