title: Thermophoresis and dust devils on the planet Mars.
abstract: In the Martian atmosphere dust is abundant and is continuously replenished by the entrainment of materials and sediments from the surface of the planet. The sediment concentrations are particularly high and noticeable in whirlwinds, also known as dust devils. Assuming the thermophoresis force as the main driver of dust particles lifting from the surface, the dust process of the Martian atmosphere and its naturally formed dust devils are investigated for the northern polar region of the planet. Our simulated convective boundary layer shows that it may be unlikely that visible dust devils are formed only due to thermophoresis effects and some other lifting mechanisms are required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Babak T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Gheynani
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emami-Razavi
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004391:Dust; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005740:Gases; D006358:Hot Temperature; D018535:Mars; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016083:Planets; D013026:Space Flight; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D005740:Gases; D002245:Carbon Dioxide