Comparison of Yardang Morphology on the Earth and the Mars: taking the Elysium Planitia and the Qaidam Basin for an example

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2017.00046

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (4): 716-723.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2017.00046

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Comparison of Yardang Morphology on the Earth and the Mars: taking the Elysium Planitia and the Qaidam Basin for an example

Li Lulu¹, Dong Zhibao^1,2,3, Li Chao¹, Cui Xujia¹, Xiao Weiqiang¹, Xiao Nan¹

1. College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China;
2. National Demonstration Center for Experimental Geography Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China;
3. Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China

Received:2017-04-19 Revised:2017-05-23 Online:2018-07-20 Published:2018-11-06

Abstract

Abstract: Yardang is a kind of wind erosion landform, which is a long-term adaptation to the environment. Its morphological characteristics can reflect the effect of its internal and external forces. We compared and analyzed the morphological parameters of the yardang bodies in the Elysium Planitia and the Qaidam Basin in the paper. The results show:(1)The ratio of length to width of yardang bodies in the Elysium Planitia is 3.49, which is close to that (3.57) in the Qaidam Basin and theoretical value (4). The yardang bodies in the Elysium Planitia and the Qaidam Basin have streamlined shape and are in the mature stage. (2)The yardang bodies are whale dorsal in the Qaidam Basin and ellipsoidal in the Elysium Planitia. The reason is that yardang bodies are affected by prevailing winds in the Qaidam Basin and are influenced by two kinds of reverse wind in the Elysium Planitia. The surface of yardang bodies have not obvious signs of split in the Qaidam Basin and have obvious signs of split in the Elysium Planitia. The reason is that they have different material base and temperature environment. The material basis of yardang bodies is lacustrine sediments and the surface has salt encrustation decaying weathering in the Qaidam Basin. However, the material basis of yardang bodies is lava flow in the Elysium Planitia, and the diurnal temperature variation on Mars is larger than on the earth.

Key words: Yardang, Mars, Qaidam Basin, Elysium Planitia

CLC Number:

P931.3

Li Lulu, Dong Zhibao, Li Chao, Cui Xujia, Xiao Weiqiang, Xiao Nan. Comparison of Yardang Morphology on the Earth and the Mars: taking the Elysium Planitia and the Qaidam Basin for an example[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2018, 38(4): 716-723.

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Comparison of Yardang Morphology on the Earth and the Mars: taking the Elysium Planitia and the Qaidam Basin for an example

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