Threshold Velocity of Wind-Blown Sand Under Jezero Crater-Like Martian Conditions

While wind-blown sand transport is a prominent process on Mars, current models may systematically overestimate the threshold friction velocity ((Formula presented.)) critical for predicting aeolian activity. We measured the (Formula presented.) of the JMSS-1 Martian soil simulant in a low-pressure wind tunnel (700–1,500 Pa), explicitly characterizing the density dependence of particle entrainment. Recalibration of the Shao–Lu model using these experimental data yields (Formula presented.) values that are approximately 39% lower than those derived from terrestrial parameterizations. Under Jezero Crater–like conditions, the recalibrated model predicts a minimum threshold friction velocity of (Formula presented.), corresponding to an aerodynamic initiation wind speed of 9.3– (Formula presented.) at 1.5 m height. This range aligns with in situ dust-lifting events and saltation activity recorded by the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The newly determined (Formula presented.) helps to further reduce the discrepancies between Martian observations, theoretical predictions, and terrestrial measurements, offering a more reasonable basis for estimating active Martian aeolian sediment transport. These findings provide a physical explanation for the observed aeolian activity at Jezero Crater and refine our understanding of how modern atmospheric processes reshape the Martian surface.