Planet Four Talk

Looks like erosion fields

  • kcLOVE by kcLOVE

    These images that look like erosion fields- I'm wondering if they would be considered to be included as gaseous patterns and if so- what am I looking at? If it's tons of little blotches then I will mark them as such, but I don't want to mislabel them. Anyone have any info regarding these?

    Posted

  • p.titchin by p.titchin in response to kcLOVE's comment.

    These are channels cut in the surface by escaping CO2 gas as the ice on the surface sublimes in the south polar spring. If you go to the "blog" section of the "talk" menu, there is lots of info on the way the surface channels are formed. They develop over a long period, but annually the pressurised gas tends to escape through persisting weaknesses, and the scouring effect continues to deepen and extend the channels. Lots of info in the blogs, but hope this helps.

    Posted

  • mschwamb by mschwamb scientist, translator in response to kcLOVE's comment.

    Hiya,

    Another great resource in addition to the ones listed above is our about page.

    Cheers,

    ~Meg

    Posted