| Literature DB >> 29853681 |
Matt W Telfer1, Eric J R Parteli2, Jani Radebaugh3, Ross A Beyer4,5, Tanguy Bertrand6, François Forget6, Francis Nimmo7, Will M Grundy8, Jeffrey M Moore5, S Alan Stern9, John Spencer9, Tod R Lauer10, Alissa M Earle11, Richard P Binzel11, Hal A Weaver12, Cathy B Olkin12, Leslie A Young9, Kimberly Ennico5, Kirby Runyon12, Marc Buie, Bonnie Buratti, Andy Cheng, J J Kavelaars, Ivan Linscott, William B McKinnon, Harold Reitsema, Dennis Reuter, Paul Schenk, Mark Showalter, Len Tyler.
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.Year: 2018 PMID： 29853681 DOI： 10.1126/science.aao2975
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Science ISSN： 0036-8075 Impact factor: 47.728