Dunes on Pluto

Science
Matt W TelferLen 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.

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Citations

Jun 2, 2018·Science·Alexander G Hayes
Apr 5, 2019·The European Physical Journal. E, Soft Matter·Wen-Xiao NingZhen-Ting Wang
Feb 20, 2020·Physical Review. E·Sachi Nakao-KusuneHiizu Nakanishi
Apr 20, 2019·Physical Review. E·J O Marston, F Pacheco-Vázquez
Apr 23, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ping LüSylvain Courrech du Pont
Jan 1, 2020·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Shahnewaz M EmtiazGianfranco Vidali
Sep 15, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Filip Elekes, Eric J R Parteli
Oct 8, 2021·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Yinze QinMartin T Dove
Jan 5, 2022·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·N Fabian KleimeierRalf I Kaiser

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