Comparison of Terrestrial and Martian Dust-devil vortices

Abstract: Dust devil vortices are the atmospheric vortices, frequently observed in dessert environment. This paper initially
provides a review of the methods used by researchers to extend the understanding of dust devil vortices. Researchers performed
field observations, laboratory modeling, and numerical simulations for lab-scale and dust-devil scale. These studies were focused
on the investigation of general characteristics of terrestrial dust devils, such as velocity, temperature fields, dust lifting
capabilities and electrostatic behavior. This paper however includes the results from a numerical model of a lab apparatus that
mimics dust devil vortices. Moreover the ability of this numerical model to incorporate physical conditions of Martian
atmosphere and gravity is exploited to make a comparison between terrestrial and Martian dust devil vortices. It was found that
in similar conditions Martian dust devil would be stronger than terrestrial dust devil in absence of dust.
Keywords: Dust devils; Martian Dust devils; atmospheric vortex.
1. Introduction vortices, and by placing a vertical axis wind turbine at the
A typical dust devil consists of air and dust rotating around Centre to extract energy from it. The system as shown in Figure
a central core and rising in the form of a column. Dust devils, 1 (right), proposed by [7] was also numerically simulated[13],
have high rotating wind speeds, electrostatic fields and to explore the potential of power generation from dust devil
reduced pressure and a warm core at the center [1][16]. like deliberately formed vortices. Another study by
Naturally occurring terrestrial dust devils have been studied [15]proposed a similar system for power production and the
extensively which includes field observations, laboratory setup involved curved vanes enclosed in an inclined circular
modeling and numerical simulations. The researchers had plate, lined up with solar cells. An opening at the center of this
various motivations behind these studies which include, the circular plate was provided for the vortex to rise up. All above
exploration of the mechanisms involved [1], to assess the studies for power production via dust devil like vortices used
power generation potential of a dust devil [7][13] , to an apparatus which was similar to the one used by Fitzgerald,
understand the dust lifting abilities, and electrostatic nature of and successfully demonstrated the ability to form dust-devil
the dust devils. like vortices, without the presence of dust particles. In all these
The field observations usually include the investigations cases velocity, temperature and pressure fields were observed.
regarding the velocity field, temperature and pressure 1.2
fields[2][3][4][14]. Although field measurements provide useful 1
information regarding the naturally occurring dust devils, yet a 0.8
Vθ/Vθm

full control over the parameters could make it easier to look
into the problem in depth. Therefore apart from the field
measurements some studies are based on laboratory
apparatus, designed to produce vortices similar to dust devils.
[17][18] (Ward`s Chamber, Church et al.) These lab systems
often utilize an exhaust fan at the top to generate an updraft at
the center of the vortex chamber and the fluid entrance is
equipped with means to impart the swirl to incoming fluid.
Studies related with the dust entrainment mechanism include
the Arizona State University Vortex Generator, ASUVG [6].
ASUVG was used to understand the dust lifting capabilities of
dust devils. ASUVG is also capable of modifying the pressure
and the composition of air inside the vortex chamber to mimic
the atmosphere of Mars. These systems however do not
involve the very process that is considered responsible for the
formation of dust devils i.e. natural convection. Moreover it is
not possible to change the value of gravitational acceleration in
this model. These models are thus not sufficient to study the
characteristics of the thermal field which is also affected by the
gravity. Another method of laboratory modeling of dust devils
was presented by Fitzgerald [5], which involves the thermal
field as well.
Fitzgerald’s laboratory model included the heated plate
surrounded by vertical plates placed at an angle. The principle
of operation of this apparatus was simply the rising of heated
air at the center of heated plate. The rising air at the center of
the chamber causes entrainment through the vertical plates
placed at an angle. When air enters at an angle with the center
of the heated plate, the rising air starts rotating. Thus a vortex
is formed. Fitzgerald used the vortices produced by this model
to compare with the field observations and it was found that
vortices produced by this apparatus were similar to dust devil
vortices. Fitzgerald’s apparatus was also used by some
researchers to study the potential of power generation. One of
the study [7] focused on using sunlight to heat up the metal
plate and use azimuthally placed vertical vanes to create
0.6 Terrestrial
0.4 vortex
0.2 Martian
vortex
0
0 1 2
Radial Position (r/rc)
Figure 1 Left) Simulated normalized tangential velocities of Martian
and Terrestrial vortex , Right) Combination of heated plate and inlet
vanes, used by [5][7][21][13]
Other than the laboratory models several authors have
successfully performed numerical simulations to study the dust
devil vortices. One of the earliest numerical simulation
regarding dust devils was performed by Smith and Leslie [8].
The vortices were simulated via numerical modeling of a
rotating porous cylindrical wall, surrounding the centrally
placed circular heated plate located on the floor. The
simulation successfully showed the formation of vortices
having warm core with reduced pressure. Above numerical
simulation was lab-scale while some of the researchers have
performed dust devil scale, large eddy simulations, including
Kanak et al.[9] and Zhaolin et al[22]. These simulations not
only provide an opportunity to control the physical parameters
such as temperature and pressure but they can also be used to
change the gravity and thermo-physical model of the ambient
air, which could be useful for the modeling of extra-terrestrial
dust devils, such as those present in MARS. The objective of
current research is to use the approach adopted by [13]i.e.
developing numerical model of the laboratory apparatus as
shown in Figure 1 (Right) to make a comparison between
terrestrial and Martian dust devil vortices.
2. Methodology
The solver used in this model is buoyantBousinesqPimpleFOAM
which is included in OpenFOAM, an open source computational
fluid dynamics software[20]. Geometric parameters were
selected, mesh was generated, boundary conditions and
turbulence models were applied, finite volume schemes were
used,all according to the methods outlined in[13][21].Hence, magnitudes of velocity, whereas the Terrestrial vortex has
an existing numerical model by[13][21]was used apart from more uniform distribution of velocity in the center, while in
some modifications in the inputs for thermos-physical model . Martian vortex the velocity magnitudes are lesser near the
The inputs for the thermo-physical model for MARS were ground and they have a maximum value in the middle portion
assumed from the values obtained by literature[19] for MARS of the vane length.
as shown in Table 1. Detailed information about the model, the
mesh convergence and validation studies can be found in
[13][21] The mesh independence study revealed the accuracy
of the mesh to be of the order 1.
Table 1Martian and terrestrial atmosphere inputs [19].

Air Property Earth Mars

Molecular Mass 28.9 44
Gravity (m/s2) 9.81 3.7
Specific heat (J/kg.K) 1000 730
Dynamic Viscosity (kg/ms) 1.5 x 10-4 1.8 x 10-5
Prantl number 0.7 2.41
Density (kg/m3) 1.2 0.015 Figure 3Velocity magnitude profile of (left) Martian vortex (right)
The same grid was validated by [13][21] against the Terrestrial vortex
experimental results of [7] . The boundary conditions and the 4. Conclusions and Future Work
geometry parameters are summarized in the following Table 2. The paper discusses the possibility of using the numerical
A cyclic boundary condition was employed to ease the model of a meter scale experimental setup for the comparison
computational and processing load, a detail account of which is of dust devil vortices of Mars and Earth. It was found that for
present in [13][21]. similar physical conditions, the vortices produced tend to be
Table 2Geometric and boundary conditions for both cases similar in nature but the Martian vortex is going to be stronger
than the terrestrial vortex as it is suggested by the well
Vane Height 0.6 m Vane width 0.35 m maintained temperature profile and the higher velocity
Vane Angle 30ᵒ Plate Radius 0.5 m magnitudes. Further in-depth analysis is needed to extract
Ambient Temperature 34ᵒC Plate Temp 55ᵒC more useful information from these models in future.
Initial velocity of air 0m References
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