When all the frozen carbon dioxide melted in summer, specific marks on the Martian landscape have appeared. They are known as “Araneidoform terrain”, as they look like spiders when seen from space. Some of these spider -like landforms are more than one kilometer, and some have hundreds of legs. They are often found in herds. In 2009, while watching the Southern Hemisphere, the upper image was taken by Mars Hunn Honor Orbiter.
The processes that create these spidery structures are not fully understood, although JPL is working on mimicking the temperature and pressures of Mars to re -create them.
The arrival of spring on Mars also brings strong winds, and it is believed that the specific spiral pattern of the north polar cap of Mars is created by the winds flying in its periphery from the center of the cap over the years. The spiral pattern is caused by the coriolis effect, which occurs when the rotation of a planet bends the course of the winds.
The deep parts of the spiral are actually deep valley, which is cut over a long period by spring winds. The Cheesma Boria, which appears on the right side of the center of the polar cap in the image, is particularly luxurious. This is until the Grand Canyon (about 450 km) and 2 kilometers deep.
Strong spring winds also carry sand dunes on the martian surface, such as winds in the desert on the Earth.
The white items you see in the image are frost around the high tibba, which remains stable while frozen. When the temperature rises in the spring and it melts ice, the dune will start moving again due to air action.
“As we have seen, the beginning of spring on Mars is very active. You can also say 'explosive', Diniga says. “I think it will be a lot of noise, with things and explosions.”
This story appeared originally Wired japan And has been translated from Japanese.