Planet Four Talk

query

  • ptierno by ptierno

    I'm new to this. Why would there be fans and blotches in the same frame? I thought these happened in the same season and that the winds would be consistent so that there would be either fans OR blotches in a given area.

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  • Kitharode by Kitharode moderator

    I guess there will be strong gusts and light breezes (or no breeze at all) during the fan/blotch forming season. Over time, we have seen just about every configuration possible in these images: Long, short, narrow, wide fans; blotches with fans sticking out of them; multi-directional fans; red fans; blue fans ... you get the idea. 😉

    Around the south pole of Mars the terrain is extremely varied and this too will affect the wind patterns and therefore the fan/blotch formation. The ice cap is a major influence, especially with those huge chasms in its side. All very weird, but you are helping to unpick the mysteries. 😃

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