Modeling the Mechanisms Behind Yardang Evolution

Barchyn, Thomas E.

doi:10.1002/2018jf004629

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Yardangs are widely distributed on the Martian surface, and it is significant for studying the Martian history of surface processes [7]. There have been many studies on their topography, distribution, and significance related to the past wind process [1,3,[8][9][10][11][12][13]. For example, yardangs on Mars have been used as paleoenvironmental markers because the orientations of Martian yardangs are congruent with that of present-day bedform migration [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study about the Temporal Constraints on the Martian Yardangs’ Development in Medusae Fossae Formation

Liu

Yue

et al. 2021

Remote Sensing

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The age of Mars yardangs is significant in studying their development and the evolution of paleoclimate conditions. For planetary surface or landforms, a common method for dating is based on the frequency and size distribution of all the superposed craters after they are formed. However, there is usually a long duration for the yardangs’ formation, and they will alter the superposed craters, making it impossible to give a reliable dating result with the method. An indirect method by analyzing the ages of the superposed layered ejecta was devised in the research. First, the layered ejecta that are superposed on and not altered by the yardangs are identified and mapped. Then, the ages of the layered ejecta are derived according to the crater frequency and size distribution on them. These ages indicate that the yardangs ceased development by these times, and the ages are valuable for studying the evolution of the yardangs. This indirect dating method was applied to the areas of Martian yardangs in the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF). The ages of the selected six layered ejecta range from ~0.50 Ga to ~1.5 Ga, indicating that the evolution of the corresponding yardangs had been ceased before these times. Analysis of more layered ejecta craters and superposed yardangs implies that yardangs in the MFF have a long history of development and some yardangs are still in active development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study about the Temporal Constraints on the Martian Yardangs’ Development in Medusae Fossae Formation

Liu

Yue

et al. 2021

Remote Sensing

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“…These outcroppings of bedrock vary widely in size and can be found in isolation or in multitudes on Earth ( 3 , 28 – 30 ) and elsewhere such as Mars ( 2 , 28 , 31 ). Yardangs are usually found in arid environments and predominantly shaped by wind erosion, though aqueous processes may also contribute ( 32 – 34 ). Subaqueous yardangs have also been documented ( 35 ), indicating that erosion by water currents can generate similar morphologies.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Previous research aiming at explaining the shapes of yardangs has focused on global aspects and especially the elongated form of the base ( 32 , 34 , 42 , 44 ). The more intricate characteristics evident in the examples of Fig.…”

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Yardangs sculpted by erosion of heterogeneous material

Boury,

Weady,

Ristroph

2024

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The recognizable shapes of landforms arise from processes such as erosion by wind or water currents. However, explaining the physical origin of natural structures is challenging due to the coupled evolution of complex flow fields and three-dimensional (3D) topographies. We investigate these issues in a laboratory setting inspired by yardangs, which are raised, elongate formations whose characteristic shape suggests erosion of heterogeneous material by directional flows. We combine experiments and simulations to test an origin hypothesis involving a harder or less erodible inclusion embedded in an outcropping of softer material. Optical scans of clay objects fixed within flowing water reveal a transformation from a featureless mound to a yardang-like form resembling a lion in repose. Phase-field simulations reproduce similar shape dynamics and show their dependence on the erodibility contrast and flow strength. Through visualizations of the flow fields and analysis of the local erosion rate, we identify effects associated with flow funneling and the turbulent wake that are responsible for carving the unique geometrical features. This highly 3D scouring process produces complex shapes from simple and commonplace starting conditions and is thus a candidate explanation for natural yardangs. The methods introduced here should be generally useful for geomorphological problems and especially those for which material heterogeneity is a primary factor.

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“…Prominent yardang fields on Mars are found in equatorial regions (e.g., the Medusa Fosse Formation; Mandt et al, 2008), in craters (e.g., Gale Crater; Day & Kocurek, 2016), and paleolake basins (e.g., Jezero Crater; Day & Dorn, 2019). Despite this attention, there is limited agreement on the dynamics and processes responsible for yardang initiation, development, and demise (Barchyn, 2018). The dominant role of aeolian abrasion in the development of yardangs is well documented (Wang et al, 2011), although the influence from non-aeolian processes has also been observed and is important for yardang development in some regions (Dong et al, 2012;Goudie, 2007;Hu et al, 2017;Li et al, 2016;Pelletier et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2018).…”

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“…Lee-side ramps often taper to a terminus near to the adjacent topography. Inter-yardang corridors (hereafter corridors) channel sediment through landscapes, acting as conduits for abrasion of yardang flanks (Barchyn, 2018;Barchyn & Hugenholtz, 2015;Pelletier, 2018). Corridor abrasion facilitates a positive feedback as corridors deepen and preferentially erode due to enhanced saltation.…”

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Antecedent controls on the spatial organization of yardangs on the Puna Plateau, north‐western Argentina

Favaro

Hugenholtz

Barchyn

2021

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Yardangs are streamlined ridges that form in arid environments on Earth and Mars through wind-driven abrasion of consolidated substrates. Currently, there is limited consensus on the mechanisms that initiate and establish patterns of yardangs on the landscape. In this work, we examine the spatial organization of yardangs in the Campo de Piedra P omez ignimbrite deposit of north-western Argentina and identify evidence of antecedent controls on yardang patterns and formation. We mapped 14,826 yardangs in the region using a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and satellite imagery. We classified yardangs as points using a two-stage decision rule based on morphology and spectral characteristics. Point pattern analysis shows that yardangs in the study area are not randomly distributed and commonly exhibit directional anisotropy in point pattern. The anisotropic pattern manifests as bands of closely-spaced yardangs oriented transverse to the dominant northwesterly wind direction. We hypothesize that banding is controlled by pre-existing antecedent topography in the bedrock, such as fumaroles or ridges associated with pyroclastic flow deposits. We present evidence from other locations on Earth and Mars to illustrate that the transverse banding is a common pattern in yardang landscapes.

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Modeling the Mechanisms Behind Yardang Evolution

Cited by 7 publications

References 12 publications

A Study about the Temporal Constraints on the Martian Yardangs’ Development in Medusae Fossae Formation

A Study about the Temporal Constraints on the Martian Yardangs’ Development in Medusae Fossae Formation

Yardangs sculpted by erosion of heterogeneous material

Antecedent controls on the spatial organization of yardangs on the Puna Plateau, north‐western Argentina

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