Ulysses Fossae
About this image
Today's VIS image shows part of Ulysses Fossae, which is located in the Tharsis Volcanic region. The linear features are referred to as graben and are formed by extension of the crust and faulting. When large amounts of pressure or tension are applied to rocks on timescales that are fast enough that the rock cannot respond by deforming, the rock breaks along faults. In the case of a graben, two parallel faults are formed by extension of the crust and the rock in between the faults drops downward into the space created by the extension. Numerous sets of cross cutting graben are visible in this THEMIS image, indicating that this region underwent stresses in multiple directions. Ulysses Fossae is 850km (528 miles) long.
Please see the THEMIS Data Citation Note for details on crediting THEMIS images.