Tag Archives: patterned ground

HiRISE: Corduroy dunes

Posted on May 31, 2018 by rburnham

Corduroy dunes. The permanent polar cap of Mars is encircled by sand dunes and looking like pulled threads, these dunes march across a fabric of patterned ground. At this time of the Martian year they are free of the seasonal … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Hexagons in icy terrain

Posted on January 23, 2018 by rburnham

Ground cemented by ice covers the high latitudes of Mars, much as it does in Earth’s cold climates. A common landform that occurs in icy terrain are polygons. Polygonal patterns form by winter cooling and contraction cracking of the frozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Lineated terrain

Posted on May 23, 2016 by rburnham

Lineated terrain — At first glance, these appear as ridges, but a closer inspection shows  patterned ground on a (roughly) level surface. In the absence of a slope, how did these form? Beautiful Mars series.

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Channel system & patterned ground near Hellas

Posted on July 3, 2015 by rburnham

In this image, we explore the southwestern floor of a 50-kilometer diameter unnamed crater, about 100 kilometers northeast of Hellas Basin. The crater’s rim is breached (see Google context image below) on both the north and south by a valley … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Strange patterned ground

Posted on February 25, 2015 by rburnham

Strange patterned ground and circular spots in dark area. This formation is right under the rim of an impact crater. There is a possibility of frost at this latitude, but doesn’t look like it is recent. Beautiful Mars series.

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off