Wind systems and dune formation in Gale Crater, Mars

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The aim of this project is to model the morphodynamics of the dune systems in Gale Crater, Mars. The quantitative understanding of the genesis and dynamics of Mars dunes - which occur mainly in the interior of craters - has implications to correctly reconstruct the geologic history of Mars and the evolution of the climate on the red planet. However, intra-crater dune processes on Mars are mainly controlled by topographic effects on local transport conditions, which cannot be resolved in Mars Circulation Models. To quantitatively describe such effects, in the present project a morphodynamic dune model, which accurately describes the shape and dynamics of terrestrial dunes, will be extended to incorporate the digital elevation model of the Martian surface into the calculation of the turbulent surface wind field and the concatenated sand flux. Based on numerical predictions of local wind directions and dune morphology, the sand roses of the different dune fields in Gale Crater will be calculated. Moreover, these results will be used to investigate the stability of the different dune morphologies in Gale Crater dune fields. Thereafter, the model will be applied to investigate the sources of dune sand in Gale Crater. The model will contribute to the investigation of regional wind regimes and the origins of aeolian sediments on Mars.