Tag Archives: alluvial fans

HiRISE: Alluvial fan in a low-latitude crater

On Earth, alluvial fans form in desert regions when heavy but sporadic rainfall washes debris from upslope and deposits it in a wedge-shaped fan on the lower slopes below. On Mars, alluvial fans are sometimes visible in impact crater basins, … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Alluvial fans

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 30, 2014. Triangular shaped deposits at cliff edges are termed alluvial fans. Alluvial fans typically form in arid regions were water flow is limited, so deposits of material are not washed away. Formation of … Continue reading

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When did water flow in Gale Crater?

The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity, sent to find habitable environments, landed in Gale Crater on the far end of an alluvial fan. This fan spreads south across Gale’s floor from the north rim. It is built from sediments washed … Continue reading

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HiRISE image: Far end of an alluvial fan

Beautiful Mars series: Far end of an alluvial fan on the floor of a crater in Xanthe Terra. More Beautiful Mars images.

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Well-rounded pebbles in Gale Crater’s rocks point to longtime stream flow

Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity landed in Gale Crater at a feature called Bradbury Rise, which lies near the far end of the Peace Vallis alluvial fan. The fan is a broad, flat deposit of sand, gravel, and pebbles washed … Continue reading

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Gale Crater’s Lake District

Mars rover Curiosity landed on, or just beyond, the far end of an alluvial fan — rocks, gravel, and sand washed down by the Peace River from the north rim of Gale Crater. The rover has driven for 200 sols … Continue reading

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Making fans all over

Water and sediment run downhill, on Earth and Mars alike. And when they do, they build broad alluvial (outwash) fans at the foot of slopes. But how fast do these fans accumulate? On Mars, at least, it looks like they … Continue reading

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