The Arabia Terra region on Mars has light-toned layered deposits exposed within larger impact craters that preserve a record of the planet’s ancient climate. This HiRISE images shows layers with similar characteristics, such as thickness and brightness, suggesting the deposits are composed of the same materials.

Researchers have proposed that the rhythmic nature of the layers and their extensive coverage across much of Arabia Terra could be due to global cyclic processes, such as dust storms, perhaps involving groundwater. The deposits are currently undergoing erosion, which has produced crenulations, pits, and jagged edges. Darker wind-blown (aeolian) ripples and debris has more recently covered and infilled portions of the layered deposit.

ID: ESP_092890_1825
date: 21 May 2026
altitude: 274 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_092890_1825
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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