Tag Archives: erosion

Wind erosion of Mars rocks doesn’t release methane

Posted on August 12, 2019 by rburnham

Wind erosion has been ruled out as the primary cause of methane gas release on Mars, Newcastle University academics have shown. Methane can be produced over time through both geological and biological routes and since its first detection in the … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: The erosional window

Posted on July 3, 2019 by rburnham

The erosional window. Layers are windows to the past. This observation will help measure layer thicknesses and layer orientations in this deep erosional window into Niesten Crater. This window appears to be deeper than others in this crater. HiRISE Picture … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Abstract art in Ius Chasma

Posted on April 18, 2019 by rburnham

Sometimes Mars’ surface is just beautiful as seen through the eyes of HiRISE. This is one example on the floor of Ius Chasma, part of Valles Marineris. The region has had a complex history of sediment deposition, deformation, erosion, and … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Layered history

Posted on February 8, 2019 by rburnham

The geologic history of a planet is written in its layers. Erosion of the surface reveals several shades of light toned layers, likely sedimentary deposits. The most recent geologic features are the narrow sand dunes snaking across the top of … Continue reading →

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Highland landscapes point to long evolution by low-intensity intermittent erosion

Posted on December 27, 2018 by rburnham

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Jon Cawley and Ross Irwin recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Evolution of Escarpments, Pediments, and Plains in the Noachian Highlands of Mars • Debris-mantled escarpments, regolith pediments, sloping aggradational surfaces, and … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Majestic slopes of Hebes Chasma

Posted on June 26, 2018 by rburnham

Majestic slopes of Hebes Chasma. Beautiful Mars series. [More at links]

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HiRISE: The inevitability of erosion

Posted on March 19, 2018 by rburnham

The inevitability of erosion. Crater-fill deposits in Tempe Terra. Beautiful Mars series.

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How hard did it rain on Mars?

Posted on May 17, 2017 by rburnham

Heavy rain on Mars reshaped the planet’s impact craters and carved out river-like channels in its surface billions of years ago, according to a new study published in Icarus. In the paper, researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and the Johns … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Flat-top ridge erodes to spurs & gullies

Posted on March 23, 2017 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, March 23, 2017. Today’s false color image shows part of Coprates Chasma, where a flat-topped ridge is eroding from both sides into blade-like terrain with spur-and-gully topography. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Scars of erosion

Posted on February 16, 2017 by rburnham

This large crescent dune in Kaiser Crater shows the scars of many types of seasonal erosional activities. Along its downwind slope are large gullies which are active during winter, when frost drives dune material downslope, carving out channels and creating … Continue reading →

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