This oblique view of the sloping edge of the stack of icy layers over the South Pole has some interesting morphologies.
The slope appears to be eroding from a combination of landslides, block falls, and sublimation. The bright icy exposure in the larger landslide scar (upper right) suggests that this was a relatively recent event.
Small-scale textures over the scene are due to both blowing wind and the thermal expansion and contraction of shallow ice.
Written by: Alfred McEwen (22 May 2017)
This is a stereo pair with ESP_013026_1080 .
More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_013224_1080
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona