Arctic soil patterns analogous to fluid instabilities

Glade, Rachel C.; Fratkin, Michael M.; Pouragha, Mehdi; Seiphoori, Ali; Rowland, Joel C.

doi:10.1073/pnas.2101255118

Title: Arctic soil patterns analogous to fluid instabilities

Journal Article · 20 May 2021 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101255118 · OSTI ID:1784387

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Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada,
Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139

Significance Slow-moving arctic soils form patterns resembling those found in common fluids, such as paint and cake icing drips. Inspired by fluid instabilities, we develop a conceptual model for soil patterns and use mathematical analysis to predict their wavelength. In particular, we propose that soil patterns arise due to competition between gravity and cohesion or the “stickiness” of soil grains. We compare our theoretical predictions with a dataset of soil features from Norway, finding that soil patterns are controlled by fluid-like properties as well as climate. Our work provides a physical explanation for a common pattern on both Earth and Mars, with implications for our understanding of landscapes and complex materials composed of both granular and fluid components.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Triad National Security, LLC, Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1784387

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--21-20493; e2101255118

Journal Information:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 118; ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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