Dust devils in thin air: Vortex observations at a high‐elevation Mars analog site in the Argentinian Puna

We report in situ measurements and field observations of dust devils at ~3800–4200 m elevation in the Argentine desert plateau (Puna). These first quantitative data at elevations where the ambient atmospheric pressure is only ~600–700 mbar support the notion that large and strong dust devils may be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2016-04, Vol.43 (8), p.4010-4016
Main Authors: Lorenz, Ralph D., Radebaugh, Jani
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerodynamics
Air
Analogs
Atmospheric particulates
Atmospheric pressure
Barometric pressure
Dust
Dust devils
Dust storms
Elevation
Fluid flow
In situ measurement
Mars
Mars dust
Meteorology
Plateaus
Properties
Puna
Thermophysical properties
Visual
Vortices
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Summary:We report in situ measurements and field observations of dust devils at ~3800–4200 m elevation in the Argentine desert plateau (Puna). These first quantitative data at elevations where the ambient atmospheric pressure is only ~600–700 mbar support the notion that large and strong dust devils may be systematically more common in low‐pressure conditions, although regional meteorology and/or surface thermophysical properties may also contribute. Key Points We report visual and in situ pressure measurements at 3800–4200 m elevation in the Argentine Puna Intense dust devils (100 Pa) may be an order of magnitude more abundant than at low elevations
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1002/2015GL067412