There may be no life on Mars, but there is still a lot going on there. The surface of Mars is home to various geological processes that intersect and even compete with each other to form the planet.
Orbiters with powerful cameras give us an excellent view of the changing surface of Mars.
The HiRISE (High Resolution Scientific Imaging Experiment) instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) shows us the changing nature of Mars. The 'Picture of the Day' series is a selection of the best camera shots.
HiRISE's recent observations provide insight into the matter. It shows what is happening in a small crater near the Antoniadi crater.
In the picture, dust devils have left footprints at the bottom of the crater, and undulating sand dunes add artistic flavor. As the dust devils move across the surface, they suck in brighter color material and leave traces of darker, exposed material.
This animation shows how the appearance of the crater floor changes over time.
Mars is prone to intense dust storms, some of which are global in nature. These storms hit a layer of brighter material, and weak wind phenomena like dust devils remove it, leaving dark streaks.
Sand dunes on Mars are also constantly changing. The following animation focuses on four small dunes that change throughout the sequence.
The steepest slopes are called 'slip slopes' and face south. They are mostly perpendicular to prevailing winds and migrate slowly south / southeast.
The third animation focuses on a single dune. Linear stripes that appear on the surface of a dune are called repetitive sloped stripes.
Stripes appear, disappear, and then reappear. They are believed to be streaks of flowing, salty water that appears every summer.
NASA is interested in Martian locations such as the interior of this crater, where the surface is very active. Scientists want to understand how the Martian landscape is evolving compared to Earth's.
This article was published by Universe Today.
Sources: Photo: NASA
