Dust Devils Dancing on Dunes
Dust devils make dark, diffuse “scribble markings” on the Martian surface by kicking up dust, and are especially active in the summertime over dark surfaces, such as those with many deposits of sand-sized material. The surface warms up in the sunlight, creating the right conditions to loft fine material into the air to form dust devils. Mars also has larger dust storms that can deposit a thin layer of dust and eliminate the dust devil tracks.
This image shows a small portion of the dunes in Russell Crater (54.9°S, 12.4°E), which is of special interest due to peculiar channels that formed on the steep slopes.
Dust Devils Dancing on Dunes
Dust devils make dark, diffuse “scribble markings” on the Martian surface by kicking up dust, and are especially active in the summertime over dark surfaces, such as those with many deposits of sand-sized material. The surface warms up in the sunlight, creating the right conditions to loft fine material into the air to form dust devils. Mars also has larger dust storms that can deposit a thin layer of dust and eliminate the dust devil tracks.
This image shows a small portion of the dunes in Russell Crater (54.9°S, 12.4°E), which is of special interest due to peculiar channels that formed on the steep slopes.