NASA’s rover finds megaripples, proof Mars' soil is still shifting
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NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered a field of giant sand formations, called megaripples, on Mars. The rover captured images of reddish-tan and bluish sandy ridges at a site known as Kerrlaguna within the Jezero Crater.
These unusual ripples stand about three feet (one meter) tall, making them larger than typical beach ripples but smaller than the planet’s largest sand dunes. Scientists believe these formations indicate that Martian winds are still actively shaping the planet’s surface.
NASA remarked that “on Mars, the past is written in stone, but the present is written in sand,” highlighting ongoing surface changes on the Red Planet.
Megaripples are long, wave-like ridges formed when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and stronger winds. Over time, many of them have become inactive, covered by coarse grains and dust that keep them in place.
At Kerrlaguna, the ripples appear almost frozen in time, moving extremely slowly — roughly one meter every nine Earth years. These ancient, wind-carved structures provide valuable insights into Mars’s climatic history and suggest possible past interactions with frost or ice, NDTV reported.
Perseverance has reached the sandy Kerrlaguna site to conduct an in-depth investigation of the Martian dunes. Using its advanced instruments, the rover captured detailed images and analysed the soil grains. Its SuperCam and Mastcam-Z cameras provided close-up visuals of the ripples, while the MEDA weather station collected data on winds and temperature.
Scientists are particularly interested in studying the grain composition and searching for salt crusts, which could hint at past moisture or frost activity. This research complements Perseverance’s ongoing study of ancient rocks by offering insights into Mars’s current climate.
The findings are not just for scientific curiosity. Understanding Martian soil and atmospheric conditions is crucial for planning future human missions, where explorers may need to rely on local resources for survival. The work at Kerrlaguna also serves as a preparation for examining an even larger field of ripples farther along Perseverance’s path.
