A lower-than-expected saltation threshold at Martian pressure and below

Significance Reproducing aeolian transport of grains in low-pressure conditions, we have discovered a saltation regime where the threshold is significantly lower than one would expect from extrapolation what observed ambient conditions. This relevant for Martian environment, wind-blown bedforms reveal sediment as major geomorphic agent shaping landscape planet. surprising result reveals existence yet-unknown processes and provides challenge our fundamental understanding on planetary bodies general. We also reproduce analogous to small (decimeter-scale) impact ripples, whose photographs taken by NASA’s Curiosity rover were surprise could be used proxies estimate sand fluxes remotely.