Planet Four Talk

Fisure Sources?

  • Berniethom by Berniethom

    Most fan shaped fwatures have distinct singe source points. However, there are also long source features suggestive of a fisure type source, as can be seen in different volcanic eruptions on Earth; cones and fisure 'fire curtain' eruptions. This image has both such features.

    Posted

  • Portyankina by Portyankina scientist

    Hi!
    You are looking at the area completely covered by CO2 ice. In spring, when jets are about to erupt this ice layer is subject to high amount of stress under which it finally fractures by forming long, often linear, cracks. Pressured CO2 from underneath the ice layer  finds these cracks and escapes through them. If it brings along some dust, it creates the fans that we observe here.
    Another example of similar features: http://talk.planetfour.org/#/subjects/APF0000hdj

    Thank you for helping us!
    Anya

    Posted

  • ianbutton1 by ianbutton1

    What is known about Mars winds? Are they so consistent? Or are the "fans" plumes photographed from an angle, or shadows of plumes? Do they rotate as the sun crosses the Mars sky - do we have any time-lapse shots for comparison?. Still not sure - plume + shadow would give 2 "fans" from 1 source. White spots appear to darken behind fans - under dust, or in shadow, or behind plume. Not seen any white spots (yet) that look younger than fans. Fascinating!

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  • mschwamb by mschwamb scientist, translator in response to ianbutton1's comment.

    Really good questions. Those are exactly the questions we hope to answer with the project.
    Cheers,
    ~Meg

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  • Portyankina by Portyankina scientist in response to ianbutton1's comment.

    Right, those are the questions we target! I just wanted to add that 95% of images you see here are taken looking directly down to the surface with no angle.

    Anya

    Posted