Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond
Abstract Polygonal networks occur on various terrestrial and extraterrestrial surfaces holding valuable information on the pedological and climatological conditions under which they develop. However, unlike periglacial polygons that are commonly used as an environmental proxy, the information that p...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16404-y |
| _version_ | 1817969569685307392 |
|---|---|
| author | Christof Sager Alessandro Airo Felix L. Arens Dirk Schulze-Makuch |
| author_facet | Christof Sager Alessandro Airo Felix L. Arens Dirk Schulze-Makuch |
| author_sort | Christof Sager |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Polygonal networks occur on various terrestrial and extraterrestrial surfaces holding valuable information on the pedological and climatological conditions under which they develop. However, unlike periglacial polygons that are commonly used as an environmental proxy, the information that polygons in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert can provide is little understood. To promote their use as a proxy, we investigated a polygonal network within an inactive channel that exhibits uncommonly diverse surface morphologies and mineral compositions, using geochemical and remote sensing techniques. Our findings show that the polygons belong to a continuous network of the same genetic origin. Their differences result from post-formational differential eolian erosion up to 50 cm depth, exposing indurated subsurface horizons rich in sulfate or nitrate and chloride. Their location in an ancient channel could lead to the misinterpretation of fluvial polygon erosion, however, we find no such signs but evidence for aqueous resurfacing of microtopography by fog and minimal rainwater infiltration. Our findings extend the use of polygons as proxies in the Atacama Desert, indicating saline soils and hyper-arid conditions. We conclude that this example of polygon erosion can guide future polygon research, especially regarding the use of erosional surfaces on Earth and beyond to gain valuable subsurface insights. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:22:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d19c39881af471a86e1394762678d0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:22:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d19c39881af471a86e1394762678d0f2022-12-22T02:31:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-07-011211910.1038/s41598-022-16404-yEolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyondChristof Sager0Alessandro Airo1Felix L. Arens2Dirk Schulze-Makuch3Astrobiology Research Group, Zentrum Für Astronomie Und Astrophysik, Technische Universität BerlinAstrobiology Research Group, Zentrum Für Astronomie Und Astrophysik, Technische Universität BerlinAstrobiology Research Group, Zentrum Für Astronomie Und Astrophysik, Technische Universität BerlinAstrobiology Research Group, Zentrum Für Astronomie Und Astrophysik, Technische Universität BerlinAbstract Polygonal networks occur on various terrestrial and extraterrestrial surfaces holding valuable information on the pedological and climatological conditions under which they develop. However, unlike periglacial polygons that are commonly used as an environmental proxy, the information that polygons in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert can provide is little understood. To promote their use as a proxy, we investigated a polygonal network within an inactive channel that exhibits uncommonly diverse surface morphologies and mineral compositions, using geochemical and remote sensing techniques. Our findings show that the polygons belong to a continuous network of the same genetic origin. Their differences result from post-formational differential eolian erosion up to 50 cm depth, exposing indurated subsurface horizons rich in sulfate or nitrate and chloride. Their location in an ancient channel could lead to the misinterpretation of fluvial polygon erosion, however, we find no such signs but evidence for aqueous resurfacing of microtopography by fog and minimal rainwater infiltration. Our findings extend the use of polygons as proxies in the Atacama Desert, indicating saline soils and hyper-arid conditions. We conclude that this example of polygon erosion can guide future polygon research, especially regarding the use of erosional surfaces on Earth and beyond to gain valuable subsurface insights.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16404-y |
| spellingShingle | Christof Sager Alessandro Airo Felix L. Arens Dirk Schulze-Makuch Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond Scientific Reports |
| title | Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond |
| title_full | Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond |
| title_fullStr | Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond |
| title_short | Eolian erosion of polygons in the Atacama Desert as a proxy for hyper-arid environments on Earth and beyond |
| title_sort | eolian erosion of polygons in the atacama desert as a proxy for hyper arid environments on earth and beyond |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16404-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christofsager eolianerosionofpolygonsintheatacamadesertasaproxyforhyperaridenvironmentsonearthandbeyond AT alessandroairo eolianerosionofpolygonsintheatacamadesertasaproxyforhyperaridenvironmentsonearthandbeyond AT felixlarens eolianerosionofpolygonsintheatacamadesertasaproxyforhyperaridenvironmentsonearthandbeyond AT dirkschulzemakuch eolianerosionofpolygonsintheatacamadesertasaproxyforhyperaridenvironmentsonearthandbeyond |