Vortex‐Dominated Aeolian Activity at InSight's Landing Site, Part 1: Multi‐Instrument Observations, Analysis, and Implications

We report the aeolian changes observed in situ by NASA's InSight lander during first 400 sols of operations: Granule creep, saltation, dust removal, and formation dark surface tracks. Aeolian are infrequent sporadic. However, on sols, when they do occur, consistently appear between noon to 3 p.m., associated with passage convective vortices periods high vortex activity. more frequent at elevated locations, such as top surfaces rocks footpads. these using, for time, simultaneous in-situ orbital imaging high-frequency meteorological, seismological, magnetic measurements. Seismometer measurements ground acceleration constrain timing trajectory encounters, linking source vortices. Magnetometer show perturbations field strength consistent charged-particle motion. Detachment sand-scale particles occurs background winds vortex-induced turbulence provide a peak friction wind speed above classic saltation fluid threshold. detachment dust- granule-scale also occurred remained below this This may be explained local enhancement roughness other effects described here further studied Part 2 (Baker et al., 2021). The lack bright dust-coated landing site implies stability onset particle motion suppressed “cushioning.” differentiates from areas Mars that exhibit