Viscous liquid flow on Martian dune slopes

TL;DR

This paper corrects previous models of liquid flow on Martian dunes, refining estimates of flow velocity, depth, and mass flux, which are crucial for understanding transient dark streaks observed on Mars.

Contribution

It provides corrected velocity profiles and flow estimates for liquid flows on Martian dunes, addressing errors in earlier models.

Findings

Corrected flow velocity profiles for Martian dune liquids

Revised estimates of flow depths and mass fluxes

Implications for understanding Martian surface processes

Abstract

The observed temporary dark streaks on some dune slopes on Mars may be due to thin sheets of water (or some other liquid) trickling downhill. This note corrects conceptual errors in a previous paper (M\"{o}hlmann and Kereszturi 2010, Icarus 207, 654-658) which affect the velocity profile of such flows, and produce over-estimates of their depths and mass fluxes by factors of almost two.