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Bouncing sands explain Mars’ rippled surface

Study finds dunes and ridges can form without much wind

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Once Martian sand grains hop, they don’t stop.

DUNE MYSTERY Wind speeds on Mars were thought to be too low to form the crescent-shaped barchan dunes found there (shown), but a new model may solve the puzzle. NASA/HiRISE

That’s the conclusion of a new study that finds sand can move on Mars without much windy encouragement.