HiRISE Captures Barchan Dunes Carving Beautiful Shapes on The Surface of Mars

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's HiRISE camera captured this intriguing image of a field of intriguing dunes known as barchan dunes.

At the North Pole of Mars' Chasma Boreale, these dunes have grown along a cliff.

A powerful camera known as HiRISE, which is located in orbit, can capture images with details as small as a desk.

MRO was approximately 197 kilometres above the earth's surface when the image was obtained, and it depicts a region that is less than one kilometre (under a mile) across.

 

Barchan dunes are widespread on both Mars and Earth, according to HiRISE scientists.

These dunes are significant because they may teach scientists information about the environment in which they evolved and the direction of the winds at a specific area. They typically have highly distinctive shapes.

Sandy regions with prevailing winds in one direction are where barchans grow. As a result, a crescent-shaped sand dune is formed. Sand is blown into crests and slopes, and the arcs of sand that form the barchan dunes end in 'horns' that point downwind.

This frequently takes the shape of what appears to be the Star Trek logo when viewed from above.

 

These curious chevron shapes in southeast Hellas Planitia are the result of a complex story of dunes, lava, and wind. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona)

Because the dunes in the image above are not shaped like the traditional crescent, chevron configuration, winds at the Martian North Pole must swirl in different ways.

The red-green-blue filter on the camera was used to capture the shot, giving the sand a blue look.

The HiRISE camera is one of the greatest resolution space cameras at the moment since it uses visible wavelengths, just like human eyes do.

Unlike any prior Mars mission, these high-resolution photographs allow researchers to differentiate 1-meter-size (about 3-foot-size) items on Mars and conduct a considerably more thorough analysis of the surface structure.

(NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona)

In order to learn more about the minerals that are present, HiRISE also conducts studies at near-infrared wavelengths.

 

Since MRO has been orbiting Mars since 2006, planetary scientists are able to monitor changes over time.

The team wants to use the lead image to monitor seasonal changes in this area over time.

This article was originally published by Universe Today.