Scalloped Depressions with Layers in the Northern Plains

• Click the image above for a larger view
• Full-Res JPEG (2048 x 4615) (1.0 MB)
• Full-Res TIFF (2048 x 4615) (9.5 MB)

Caption:

Click on image for larger version

This HiRISE image ( PSP_002439_2265 ), of the northern plains of Mars, is marked by depressions in a layer of material that covers the region. The depressions, several of which have coalesced together, have scalloped edges and layers in their walls.

Features such as these are most commonly found at approximately 55 degrees north and south latitude. Their presence has led to hypotheses of the removal of subsurface material, possibly ground ice, by sublimation (evaporation). This process is believed to be ongoing today.

In this image, steeper scarps with layers consistently face the north pole while more gentle slopes without layers face in the direction of the equator. This is most likely due to differences in solar heating.

Large boulders, some several meters in length, are scattered within the depressions and on the surrounding surface. Also on the surface surrounding the scalloped depressions is a polygonal pattern of fractures. This is commonly associated with "scalloped terrain," and indicates that the surface has undergone stress potentially caused by subsidence, desiccation, or thermal contraction.

Observation Toolbox
Acquisition date: 2 February 2007
Local Mars time: 3:23 PM
Degrees latitude (centered): 46.0°
Degrees longitude (East): 92.1°
Range to target site: 310.7 km (194.2 miles)
Original image scale range: from 31.1 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) to 62.2 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning)
Map-projected scale: 25 cm/pixel and north is up
Map-projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission angle: 14.7°
Phase angle: 77.0°
Solar incidence angle: 63°, with the Sun about 27° above the horizon
Solar longitude: 177.0°, Northern Autumn

Background Info:

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is operated by the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the instrument was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corp., Boulder, Colo.

Cataloging Keywords: