Beautiful Dunes on Mars, Sculpted by Swirling Winds By Nancy_A
Barchan Dunes are formed in prevailing winds. Image Credit: unknown. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=571880
Barchans form in sandy areas where winds blow in one dominant direction. This creates a crescent-shaped sand dune. The arcs of sand that define the barchan dunes end in “horns” that point downwind, while sand is blown into crests and slopes. Many times, this forms a shape that, from above, This crescent-shaped barchan dune in southeast Hellas Planitia is the result of a complex story of dunes, lava, and wind.The winds at the Martian North Pole must swirl in various directions because the dunes shown above aren’t shaped in the classic crescent, chevron shape. The image was taken using the red-green-blue filter on the camera, giving the sand a blue appearance.
The HiRISE camera operates in visible wavelengths, the same as human eyes, but with a telescopic lens that makes it one of the highest resolution cameras currently in space. These high-resolution images enable scientists to distinguish 1-meter-size objects on Mars and to study the surface structure in a much more comprehensive manner than any other Mars mission.
HiRISE also makes observations at near-infrared wavelengths to obtain information on the minerals present. MRO has been in Mars orbit since 2006, and the longevity of the mission means planetary scientists can track changes over time. The goal for taking the lead image is for the team to track for seasonal changes in this region over time.
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