Sand dunes on Mars might hold the key to understanding the planet’s mysterious environment.
NASA has awarded Texas A&M Geology & Geophysics PhD student Lauren Berger funding for a project that could reveal new insights into the Red Planet’s wind patterns, atmospheric conditions and more.
The funding is part of NASA’s FINESST (Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology) grant, which supports innovative research in earth and planetary sciences.
Berger’s project, ‘Insights into the Martian Environment Through Pattern Analysis of Compound Dunes’, focuses on studying dunes on Mars using high-resolution images captured by NASA’s orbiting cameras.
Discovering how sand dunes on Mars impact its environment
These compound dunes – dunes with smaller dunes layered on top – are well-documented on Earth but remain unexplored on Mars.
“The shape and pattern of these aeolian bedforms—geologic features shaped by wind—can tell us so much about the environment,” Berger explained.
“By comparing compound dunes on Mars to those on Earth, we can uncover similarities and differences that could help us better understand the Martian surface and atmosphere.”
As part of her research at Texas A&M with the FINESST grant, Berger’s first step is identifying all the compound dunes on Mars.
Using high-resolution images from NASA’s Context Camera and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, she will study their shapes and compare them to similar dunes on Earth to better understand how they form and what they reveal about the Martian environment.
“After years of looking at sand ripples as hazards for the Perseverance Rover, which is a NASA robot exploring Mars and searching for signs of past life, I wanted to dive deeper into the science behind them,” Berger said.
The FINESST grant is a prestigious award
This groundbreaking research is supported by the FINESST programme, which awarded funding to only 156 projects out of 1,120 submissions. With such a competitive selection process, winning this grant is both rare and significant.
“The FINESST grant is a great accomplishment for which Lauren can be proud. It will allow her to focus on her research, strengthen her relationship with NASA, and grow as a leader in earth and planetary sciences,” stated Dr Julia Reece, Berger’s adviser and an assistant professor in the Department of Geology & Geophysics.
Dr Marion Nachon, the principal investigator for the research project and an associate research scientist in the department, emphasised how rare and valuable the FINESST grant is for young researchers, offering a unique opportunity to advance their careers.
“With this highly competitive FINESST grant award, Lauren is getting an exceptional opportunity to pursue her growth as a motivated and promising scientist,” she concluded.
