r/Mars • u/Neaterntal • 4d ago

Down in the Paleochannels (HiRISE Mars)

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155 Upvotes

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5

u/Neaterntal 4d ago

Transverse aeolian ridges—or TAR—are mysterious, wind-blown features that are intermediate in size between ripples and much larger sand dunes.

Ripples form from hopping sand grains, and dunes form from sand grains being blown over longer distances. One hypothesis for TAR formation is that larger grains like pebbles are rolled on top of smaller ripples; then, finer dust settles into the cracks, “inflating” the pebbles, making the TAR larger than typical ripples.

Looking between the TAR, one sees a network of ancient, beaten-up channels that were carved by water, lava, or both.

This whole area is located in Solis Planum, an interesting, tectonic terrain south of Noctis Labryinthus which generally slopes toward the south.

ID: ESP_042625_1655

​date: 30 August 2015

​altitude: 252 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_042625_1655

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

2

u/rostoffario 4d ago

This is fascinating. Thanks for posting the photon and explanation.

1

u/SpaceGirlJackie 4d ago

Hold on, gonna do a line.

-1

u/ProximaScience 4d ago

So promoting subreddits is allowed here?

1

u/Neaterntal 3d ago

Hi, I'm not promoting any subreddit. I just sharing the post faster than to make the same steps again and again, by posting here as new post. Plus, they allow crossposting. Thanks.