Dunes on Pluto - PubMed
. 2018 Jun 1;360(6392):992-997.
doi: 10.1126/science.aao2975.
Eric J R Parteli # 2 , Jani Radebaugh # 3 , Ross A Beyer 4 5 , Tanguy Bertrand 6 , François Forget 6 , Francis Nimmo 7 , Will M Grundy 8 , Jeffrey M Moore 5 , S Alan Stern 9 , John Spencer 9 , Tod R Lauer 10 , Alissa M Earle 11 , Richard P Binzel 11 , Hal A Weaver 12 , Cathy B Olkin 12 , Leslie A Young 9 , Kimberly Ennico 5 , Kirby Runyon 12 ; New Horizons Geology, Geophysics and Imaging Science Theme Team; Marc Buie, Bonnie Buratti, Andy Cheng, J J Kavelaars, Ivan Linscott, William B McKinnon, Harold Reitsema, Dennis Reuter, Paul Schenk, Mark Showalter, Len Tyler
Affiliations
- PMID: 29853681
- DOI: 10.1126/science.aao2975
Dunes on Pluto
Matt W Telfer et al. Science. .
Abstract
The surface of Pluto is more geologically diverse and dynamic than had been expected, but the role of its tenuous atmosphere in shaping the landscape remains unclear. We describe observations from the New Horizons spacecraft of regularly spaced, linear ridges whose morphology, distribution, and orientation are consistent with being transverse dunes. These are located close to mountainous regions and are orthogonal to nearby wind streaks. We demonstrate that the wavelength of the dunes (~0.4 to 1 kilometer) is best explained by the deposition of sand-sized (~200 to ~300 micrometer) particles of methane ice in moderate winds (<10 meters per second). The undisturbed morphology of the dunes, and relationships with the underlying convective glacial ice, imply that the dunes have formed in the very recent geological past.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
Comment in
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Dunes across the Solar System.
Hayes AG. Hayes AG. Science. 2018 Jun 1;360(6392):960-961. doi: 10.1126/science.aat7488. Science. 2018. PMID: 29853671 No abstract available.
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