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Summary of Results from the Planetary Dune Workshop, Alamogordo, NM.

The Top 10 Things Planetary Dune Research Needs to Focus On.

1. Better communication between dune scientists studying ALL planetary surfaces (e.g. joint research, future workshops, special sessions at meetings).
2. More terrestrial analog studies to better understand fundamental processes
• More field analog studies of BOTH morphology and process
• Field sites should include both warm and cold deserts e.g., (Arctic for megaripple studies)
• Potential importance of Pleistocene-age para- and peri-glacial landscapes.
• Physical weathering as a source of particles for transport by wind.
3. Scaling of dunes and sediment transport between the Earth, Mars, Titan, and laboratory experiments.
4. Increased use of small-scale higher resolution climate models (e.g. mesoscale models) of dunes fields for comparison with observed wind directions.
5. Development, completion and/or expansion of planetary dune databases, especially the completion of the Mars Digital Dune Database (MGD3) to include the polar regions and added compositional information. The planned Earth dunes database should be supported.
6. Additional research to develop or refine dune classification schemes to consider both morphology and formation processes, e.g. effects of formative wind regimes on dune morphology.
7. More research on the formation process of linear dunes (important for Titan), esp. lee dunes.
8. More research of the physical properties of dunes on Mars, Titan, and Earth and how these properties affect remote sensing observables.
9. Modeling of dune morphodynamics, especially dune initiation and merging/linking of dunes (computer and flume)
10. Inclusion of instruments to measure key parameters for aeolian processes (e.g wind speed and direction) on all future planetary (esp. Mars) landers and rovers.

Planetary Dunes Workshop is a Success.

The Mars-Dunes.org Consortium held a workshop in Alamogordo, NM. The workshop, sponsored by LPI and JPL and organized by the USGS, PSI, DRI, and SETI, incorporated oral and poster presentations, as well as extended discussion dispersed around a one-day field trip to dunes at White Sands National Monument. This workshop brought together researchers with interests in planetary dunes from diverse backgrounds, ranging from image analysis to modeling to terrestrial analogue studies. A group of approximately 45 researchers from 8 countries (4 continents) had intensive discussion of problems and issues in an attempt to identify the most promising approaches to understanding these dune systems and to develop a collaborative interdisciplinary research agenda. The workshop will produce a white paper and a special issue outlining the current status of planetary aeolian dune research and identifying key areas for future research. The agenda and links to the abstracts can be found at the LPI dune meeting website.

Planetary Dunes Workshop - Update

Update:
The program and abstracts for the Planetary Dunes Workshop: A Record of Climate Change are now available on the meeting website at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2008/.

The final announcement with logistical information including field trip logistics will be posted by Friday, April 4.

The deadline to make hotel reservations has been extended until Monday, April 7. Please see details in the 2nd announcement for information on how to make your hotel reservation.

The deadline to register to attend the workshop is Friday, April 11. You must register and pay by Friday, April 11.

** THERE WILL BE NO ONSITE REGISTRATION FOR THE WORKSHOP. **

Overview:
The Mars-Dunes.org Consortium is holding a workshop incorporating oral and poster presentations as well as extended discussion dispersed around a one-day field trip to dunes at White Sands National Monument. This workshop will bring together researchers with interests in planetary dunes from diverse backgrounds in image analysis, modeling, and terrestrial analogue studies. A small group setting will facilitate intensive discussion of problems and issues in an attempt to identify the most promising approaches to understanding these dune systems and to develop a collaborative interdisciplinary research agenda. The workshop will produce a white paper or a special issue outlining the current status of planetary aeolian dune research and identifying key areas for future research. The final announcement is posted at the LPI website.

Mars Global Digital Dune Database: MC2 to MC29

Sand dunes are among the most widespread aeolian features present on Mars, serving as unique indicators of the interaction between the atmosphere and surface. A new Mars Global Digital Dune Database (MGD³) provides a comprehensive and quantitative view of the geographic distribution of moderate- to large-size dune fields (area > 1 km²). MGD³, which extends from 65° N to 65° S latitude and encompasses ~ 550 dune fields, is now available for download in its entirety as USGS Open-File Report #2007-1158 Click here to link to the Dune Database Open File Report. Selected portions of MGD³ will soon be available using JMARS software, a free geographical information system (GIS) provided by Arizona State University. Click here to link to JMARS. Selected portions will also soon be available at the U.S.G.S. Planetary GIS Web Server (PIGWAD). Click here to link to PIGWAD.

Suggested Citation:
Hayward, R.K., Mullins, K.F., Fenton, L.K., Hare, T.M., Titus, T.N., Bourke, M.C., Colaprete, A., Christensen, P.R., 2007, Mars Global Digital Dune Database: MC2 to MC29: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1158.

Mars-Dunes.org Goes Live!

The Mars-Dunes.org website is now updated and live!

Martian dunes hide water secret

Scientists have found evidence that large amounts of water-ice hide within massive sand dunes on Mars. One of the dunes, called Kaiser Dune, which spans 6.5km and rises 475m above the Martian surface, is among the largest in the Solar System. Click here for news article.