Dust Devil Dynamics Observed from Orbit as a Tool to Quantify Atmospheric Dust Sourcing on Mars

Kurzfassung

Dust devils and near-surface winds are responsible for the sourcing and atmospheric injection of dust on Mars, representing a vital part of the martian dust cycle that affects surface processes, weather, climate, and exploration missions [1-6]. Yet, direct observations of wind speed and direction are mostly limited to static landers and constrained to short periods of time. In addition, in-situ observations of wind speed rarely indicate conditions suitable for the initiation of particle saltation and dust lifting, termed the ‘Mars sand transport puzzle’ [7,8]. Here, we use observations of dust devil migration velocity and azimuth (‘dynamics’) in Trace Gas Orbiter CaSSIS (Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System) and Mars Express HRSC (High Resolution Stereo Camera) images as a tool to characterize the dynamics of the lowermost martian atmosphere between MY27-37 (2004-2024) in space and time, directly addressing the Mars sand transport puzzle.