Eroding Lava Flows

Scaled Image

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

About this image

This image illustrates how radically the wind can affect the surface of Mars. Not only have windstreaks formed in the lee of many craters, but the lava flows in this region have been covered by fine materials and then eroded by the sand blasting action of the wind. In this region the winds are blowing to the west, eroding the lava surface to form small east/west ridges and bumps. Given enough time the winds will change the appearance of the surface to such a large extent that all flow features will be erased.

Please see the THEMIS Data Citation Note for details on crediting THEMIS images. 

Context

Image ID: 
V03763003 (View data in Mars Image Explorer)
-11.7277
219.952
3763
2002-10-20 00:31
Fri, 2005-07-01
VIS
1024 pixels (17 km)
3648 pixels (63 km)
0.017442 km/pixel
0.017569 km/pixel

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