Gale Surface Wind Characterization based on the Mars Science Laboratory REMS Dataset. Part I: Wind Retrieval and Gale's Wind Speeds and Directions

•A new wind retrieval method that allows representative winds to be extracted from the MSL REMS raw dataset is presented, despite the damage this sensor suffered during landing.•This method could be useful for interpreting the results of future Mars wind sensors, especially those using the same technology, such as the TWINS and MEDA instruments.•A comprehensive diurnal and seasonal surface wind characterization is presented for the location of MSL in Gale Crater, covering the two Mars years over which the REMS wind sensor operated on the surface.•Complex wind patterns are observed. Slope winds on Aeolis Mons seem to play the most important role in determining surface winds at MSL’s location.•Significant sol to sol variability was observed, which implies that characteristic wind patterns should be obtained by averaging multiple sols with significant amounts of data.