Streaks form on slopes when dust cascades downhill. The dark streak is an area of less dust compared to the brighter and reddish surroundings. What triggers these avalanches is not known, but might be related to sudden warming of the surface.

These streaks are often diverted by the terrain they flow down. This one has split into many smaller streaks where it encountered minor obstacles.

These streaks fade away over decades as more dust slowly settles out of the Martian sky.

ID: ESP_053518_1955
date: 26 December 2017
altitude: 279 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_053518_1955
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA