Though Mars is the
Red Planet, false-color images can help us learn about its weather and geology.
This image shows a variety of wind-related features on the Red Planet near the
center of Gamboa Crater. Larger sand dunes form sinuous crests and individual domes.
There are tiny ripples on the tops of the
dunes, only several feet from crest-to-crest. These merge into larger
mega-ripples about 30 feet apart that radiate outward from the dunes. The
larger, brighter formations that are roughly parallel are called
"Transverse Aeolian Ridges" (TAR). These TAR are covered with very
coarse sand.
The mega-ripples appear blue-green on one
side of an enhanced color cutout while the TAR appear brighter blue on the
other. This could be because the TAR are actively moving under the force of the
wind, clearing away darker dust and making them brighter. All of these
different features can indicate which way the wind was blowing when they
formed. Being able to study such variety so close together allows us to see
their relationships and compare and contrast features to examine what they are
made of and how they formed.
Image
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Source: Blue
Ripples on a Red Planet | NASA
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