Every Grain Tells a Story: Deciphering Planetary Processes Through Sediment Transport on Earth, Mars, and Beyond

Sediment transport on Mars and other planetary bodies encodes critical information about past and present environmental conditions, yet interpreting these processes remains challenging due to differences in atmospheric density, gravity, and grain properties compared to Earth. Recent research at Oxia Planum, the future landing site of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover, combines morphometric analysis of aeolian features like transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) and periodic bedrock ridges (PBRs) with advanced atmospheric modeling—including Mars Global Circulation Models (MGCMs), mesoscale models, and large eddy simulations (LES). These studies reveal that Martian sedimentary archives hold snapshots of climatic regimes, erosion rates, and sediment flux, providing insights into the planet's dynamic history. Terrestrial analogues, such as the hyper-arid Puna Plateau in Argentina, Lake Askja in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park, and Scotland’s Scoraig delta, serve as crucial references to refine interpretations of Martian landscapes. The work underscores the need for a holistic approach that integrates atmospheric forcing, grain-scale interactions, and terrestrial insights to decode planetary sediment transport—offering a template for studying similar processes across the solar system.

Favaro, E. (2026). Every Grain Tells a Story: Deciphering Planetary Processes Through Sediment Transport on Earth, Mars, and Beyond . https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2026-655