Pits in the South Polar Layered Deposits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Pits in the South Polar Layered Deposits
PSP_005893_1060  Science Theme: Polar Geology
The bright band running diagonally through the center of this image is a sun-facing scarp exposing the south polar layered deposits (SPLD).

Near the top of the scarp, dozens of pits are visible in the SPLD. Based on Mars Express MARSIS and MRO SHARAD radar observations, the SPLD are probably rich in water ice. It is therefore possible that these pits were formed by evaporation and escape of water from beneath the surface of the SPLD, followed by collapse into the voids created by removal of water ice.

The surface of the SPLD is typically covered by dust, protecting the underlying water ice from evaporation. It is not clear why the water ice would have evaporated and escaped from the pits in this area—perhaps the scarp is steep enough that the SPLD are being pulled down slope by gravity.

Written by: Ken Herkenhoff  (2 January 2008)

This is a stereo pair with PSP_005379_1060.
 
Acquisition date
29 October 2007

Local Mars time
14:28

Latitude (centered)
-74.023°

Longitude (East)
131.413°

Spacecraft altitude
245.7 km (152.7 miles)

Original image scale range
26.5 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~79 cm across are resolved

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel

Map projection
Polarstereographic

Emission angle
21.7°

Phase angle
81.8°

Solar incidence angle
69°, with the Sun about 21° above the horizon

Solar longitude
338.8°, Northern Winter

For non-map projected images
North azimuth:  95°
Sub-solar azimuth:  56.8°
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POSTSCRIPT
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.