NASA Perseverance rover sees megaripples on Mars
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Perseverance recently took this image of a “mega-ripple” on Mars. . | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
In a mission update at the end of last month, Perseverance Team members described the rover’s most detailed examination yet of a class of features called mega-aeolian ripples, oversized sand ripples that can reach about 6.5 feet (about 2 meters) in height. Unlike small ripples which can move easily, mega ripples March are often treated as “mostly inactive”, preserving clues about ancient wind patterns and atmospheric conditions that helped shape the landscape of the Red Planet. In the recent update, the mission team shared an image of a giant sand ripple formed by the wind, nicknamed “Hazyview.”
What is this?
On Earthwind can continually reorganize sand into migrating dunes and ripples. The situation on Mars is similar, but a little more complicated. Even if the Martian atmosphere is much thinner than Earth’s, wind remains one of the primary agents of surface change, capable of eroding bedrock into sand-sized grains and transporting them across the landscape.
But mega-ripples can become stubbornly resistant to movement. The mission team noted that when atmospheric water interacts with dust on the surface of a ripple, it can contribute to the formation of a salty, dusty crust. This crust increases cohesion – essentially “locking” the grains together – so that ordinary winds have difficulty moving the deposit. In this sense, many Martian mega-ripples function like time capsules: they can record past wind patterns and episodes of water-dust interaction rather than constantly updating with each burst.
Some mega-ripples on Mars show signs of movement, suggesting that rare periods of strong winds could erode crusts or partially reactivate sand, moving the surface again. To explore this further, Perseverance moved into the “Honeyguide” ripple field.
Where is he?
The “Hazyview” mega-ripple was seen in the Ripple field “Honeyguide” found near the rim of Jezero Crater on Mars, which Perseverance has been exploring since landing in February 2021.
The “Hazyview” mega-ripple could provide key clues to the ancient geological history of Mars. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Why is this amazing?
As part of “Honeyguide”, Perseverance carried out a particularly intensive study of the mega-ripple nicknamed “Hazyview”. The research team reported that the rover collected more than 50 observations using a large sample of its payload – SuperCam, Mastcam-Z, MEDA, PIXL and WATSON – to study how the ripple is constructed and whether it is truly dormant.
Studying sand can feel like a side quest, next to looking for signs of antiquities. Life on Mars, but mega-ripples are directly related to both Mars science and human exploration planning.
Scientifically, they open a window into the most recent chapter in the evolution of the Martian surface. If mega-ripples are inactive, they preserve a record of antecedent winds and water-dust chemistry. If they can be reactivated, they will demonstrate that even modern Mars – cold and empty – can still significantly reorganize its surface.
And, on a more practical level, the mission team emphasized that the chemistry and cohesion of Martian soils will shape future operations: how vehicles will gain traction, how dust will behave around hardware, and even how accessible certain resources might be for in situ use. Studying the past of the Red Planet hidden in its rocks and preparing for future missions to its surface keep Perseverance busy as it continues to traverse Mars.
Want to know more?
You can learn more about NASA Perseverance Rover And March.
