A team of researchers working with several institutions in China, Canada and Germany obtained data from Chinese Mars rover Zhurong during its first 60 Mars days (sols), proving evidence of wind erosion and also the possible effect of water erosion. In their study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, discuss what they have found so far.

Chinese Mars Zhurong rover is on the surface Mars from 05.2021. During this period, 60 Mars days (sols) traveled approximately 450 meters.

Zhuong was sent to the area Planetary Utopia - to a volcanic plain in the northern hemisphere of the planet. It is a place that some believe was probably once covered in water. Data from the rover's cameras showed that part of the plain Zhuong The moves are generally quite flat. There are very few boulders. And data from the bikes showed that the surface under the rover is covered with small pointed stones. Zhuong it also collects soil samples during the movement - so far the composition of the soil in this area is similar to what the rovers collected on other parts of the planet. Image data also show that small stones have grooves engraved on them, which appear to be the result of wind erosion. They also found some evidence of scaling in some of the stones, possible evidence of water erosion.

Researchers have also found evidence of mega-waves on the surface - wind-shaped features - similar to sand dunes on Earth. The mother probe detected bright streaks in orbit. Scientists theorize that the bright parts of the waves are made up of dust. They add that if this turns out to be the case, it would indicate that the wind has not been blowing in this area for a long time.