Avalanche on Mars!
Published on 11 Mar 2008 at 3:00 pm.
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Filed under Astronomy, Exploration, Mars, Space.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured for the first time ever an avalanche in progress on another world!
These images were taken with the Hi Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRISE) flying on the MRO. This image was taken at 34° latitude and 235.8° longitude, which is in Mars’ north polar region. The geology of this region is that of a layered dome of material, and this cliff is located at the edge of it. The cliff is about one half of a mile high! (70 m = 2300 ft) and is incredibly steep with slopes as great as 60°. The cloud of dust is about 590 feet across and extends about 625 feet from the base of the cliff.
This image was taken on February 18, 2008 at 1:05pm Martian local time. In the northern hemisphere of Mars, spring began on December 10, 2007, and the Carbon Dioxide ice (seen in the left side of the image at the top of the cliff) is beginning to thaw in the spring “heat”. The Carbon Dioxide ice does not melt, instead it sublimes (turning from a solid to a gas). As it does sediments and ice in these steep cliffs give way to avalanches.
The scientists have been watching these particular locations with the hope of catching one in action. They have succeeded!
Here you can compare before (PSP_007140_2640) and after (PSP_007338_2640) photos.
Kevin Knuth
Albany NY
