Apollinaris Sulci Yardangs

Today's VIS image shows part of Apollinaris Sulci. Yardangs are present at the top of this VIS image. These features are created by long term winds scouring a poor cemented surface material into linear ridges and valleys. The direction of the ridge/valley is aligned with the wind direction, indicating the dominant wind direction in this region was north/south. These yardangs are the southern margin of Apollinaris Sulci, located south of Apollinaris Mons. It has been suggested that this region of Mars provides a large percentage of the surface dust seen around the planet. Ash falls from nearby volcanoes may have been the source of the surface materials eroded into these and other wind etched landforms.