Scars of Erosion

This large crescent dune in Kaiser Crater shows the scars of many types of seasonal erosional activities. Along its downwind slope are large gullies which are active during winter, when frost drives dune material downslope, carving out channels and creating fan-shaped aprons.

On the upwind slope (bottom), dust devil tracks are visible: dark lines and curliques created during the spring season by small wind vortices vacuuming up a thin layer of dust and exposing the dark dune sand.

Note: Both the cutout and the above image are rotated so that North is to the right.

Written by: Serina Diniega  (16 February 2017)

This is a stereo pair with ESP_021720_1330 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_020876_1330

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona