Mars keeps trying to get our attention, and this time it has been the Perseverance rover (operated by NASA) that has located a huge structure shaped by the planet’s wind. Even though it may seem like a very passive planet, remember that everything there is much more intense.
In this case, they are called megaripples, and they are giant sand ripples that look frozen in time. Besides being impressive, they are key to understanding how the planet’s climate has changed. Will this be key for a human to be able to walk around there one day?
What has Perseverance found?
It came across a field of megaripples called Hazyview, giant dunes up to two meters high that have formed due to constant winds blowing for millions of years. Unlike ancient rivers or lakes, which speak of a wet and distant Mars, these ripples tell us about the “current” Mars, which is drier, colder, and dominated by wind.
Hazyview
Hazyview is located within a larger area called Honeyguide. There, Perseverance observed sharp crests all aligned in the same direction, meaning persistent winds blowing from north to south for a very long time.
Part of these megaripples appears to be covered by a salty crust, created when the small amount of Martian water vapor interacts with dust. That layer hardens the sand and makes it more resistant.
Mars is not “dead”
Many believed Mars was boring, but the reality is that it is still changing every day, at a much slower pace than our planet. Some formations that seem “asleep” could be reactivated if extreme winds occur.
I don’t get it…
To put it into perspective, before Hazyview, Perseverance studied another area called Kerrlaguna, and there the megaripples were smaller and more scattered. So they could conclude that not all of the red planet is the same. There are regions with more intense and constant winds than others, and that can help scientists in future missions.
- It can affect rover mobility
- It can damage instruments
- It can condition where and how human habitats are built
In addition, as in archaeology, these formations work like natural archives to understand how the planet’s meteorology works, or worked.
A champion
Perseverance has undoubtedly worked to study more than 50 observations using instruments such as Mastcam-Z, SuperCam, MEDA, PIXL, and WATSON, each one doing its part. One measured grain size, another their chemical composition, and they even searched for signs of morning frost.
Mars is not what we thought
It seemed boring, but now we are discovering that wind is the true king of this planet and that it is shaping it as it wants, although in a very different way from how winds work on Earth. It is truly incredible.
Key for the future
Of course, it is important to know how this planet behaves if we want to move forward and land on Mars. It is key to knowing whether construction is possible and where it can be done.
A clear message from Mars
The red planet still has a lot to tell us. Beneath its hostile and boring appearance, this planet has much to say, and we just have to listen to what it wants to tell us to start building the future of humanity there. How exciting!