Monitoring Change in Bright Wind Streaks
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Monitoring Change in Bright Wind Streaks
PSP_009777_1955  Science Theme: Aeolian Processes
The purpose of this observation was to monitor changes in bright wind streaks near the feature Tharsis Tholus. On Mars, aeolian activity is the most dynamic geologic process that shapes land formations. Wind streaks in particular, are some of the most prominent aeolian features on the surface of Mars and occur because of wind erosion, then deposition. These streaks help to determine surface wind circulation patterns and directions.

There are two main types of wind streaks: bright and dark. On this image there are bright wind streaks, which can be seen at the edges of most of the craters. There are a few craters that appear to be almost completely erased by dust on the surface, which has been blown into them. Bright wind streaks are thought to be depositional features that are made from fine, bright dust. On another note the removal of bright wind streaks, results in dark streaks.

Another significant feature on this image is the mini fossae. A fossae is a long, narrow, shallow depression. One explanation for fossae formations is volcanic activity. These channels (fossae) like this one can be interpreted as an "unroofed" or collapsed lava tube.



Written by: Cynthia Inman/Circe Verba  (20 May 2009)
 
Acquisition date
27 August 2008

Local Mars time
15:25

Latitude (centered)
15.231°

Longitude (East)
267.828°

Spacecraft altitude
272.4 km (169.3 miles)

Original image scale range
27.5 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~82 cm across are resolved

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel and North is up

Map projection
Equirectangular

Emission angle
8.0°

Phase angle
56.3°

Solar incidence angle
49°, with the Sun about 41° above the horizon

Solar longitude
118.5°, Northern Summer

For non-map projected images
North azimuth:  97°
Sub-solar azimuth:  21.7°
JPEG
Black and white
map projected  non-map

IRB color
map projected  non-map

Merged IRB
map projected

Merged RGB
map projected

RGB color
non-map projected

JP2
Black and white
map-projected   (751MB)

IRB color
map-projected   (326MB)

JP2 EXTRAS
Black and white
map-projected  (320MB)
non-map           (426MB)

IRB color
map projected  (111MB)
non-map           (298MB)

Merged IRB
map projected  (209MB)

Merged RGB
map-projected  (203MB)

RGB color
non map           (296MB)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
B&W label
Color label
Merged IRB label
Merged RGB label
EDR products
HiView

NB
IRB: infrared-red-blue
RGB: red-green-blue
About color products (PDF)

Black & white is 5 km across; enhanced color about 1 km
For scale, use JPEG/JP2 black & white map-projected images

USAGE POLICY
All of the images produced by HiRISE and accessible on this site are within the public domain: there are no restrictions on their usage by anyone in the public, including news or science organizations. We do ask for a credit line where possible:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

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.