Windstreaks in Daedalia

Scaled Image

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

About this image

The atmosphere of Mars is a dynamic system. Water-ice clouds, fog, and hazes can make imaging the surface from space difficult. Dust storms can grow from local disturbances to global sizes, through which imaging is impossible. Seasonal temperature changes are the usual drivers in cloud and dust storm development and growth.
Eons of atmospheric dust storm activity has left its mark on the surface of Mars. Dust carried aloft by the wind has settled out on every available surface; sand dunes have been created and moved by centuries of wind; and the effect of continual sand-blasting has modified many regions of Mars, creating yardangs and other unusual surface forms. Today's two large windstreaks are good examples of the scour-and-deposit type of windstreak discussed in yesterday's image. The wind has played a greater part in modifying the surface seen in this image than just producing windstreaks, it has eroded the rim of the crater at the bottom center of the image and appears to have started to affect the surface of the lava flow.

Please see the THEMIS Data Citation Note for details on crediting THEMIS images. 

Context

Image ID: 
V05598003 (View data in Mars Image Explorer)
-13.1073
222.2
5598
2003-03-20 01:38
Tue, 2004-07-13
VIS
1024 pixels (17 km)
3648 pixels (63 km)
0.017426 km/pixel
0.017553 km/pixel

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