New Image from NASA reveals secrets of Martian sand dunes
Q. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA) images have shown what finding regarding sand dunes on the red planet?- Published on 13 Oct 15a. Presence of resistant and highly fractured surface among sand dunes
b. Information about erosion and movement of surface material
c. Data about wind and weather patterns as well as soil grains and grain sizes
d. All of the above
ANSWER: All of the above
New images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissnace Orbiter have demonstrated a resistant and highly fractured surface amidst sand dunes. High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment/HiRISE camera abroad NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter takes images of the sand dunes to study mobile soils. Images also provide data about erosion and movement of surface material, wind as well as weather patterns, soil grains and grain sizes. Images also reveal information about the nature of substrate beneath. Fractured ground resists erosion by wind and indicates material is bedrock shattered by bending stresses and/or changes in temperature such as cooling. Surface may be a sedimentary layer once wet and shrunk, fractured as it dried, according to NASA. Small and indistinct fractures have trapped dark dune sand marching overhead and have become clear and distinct, leading to an examination of the orientation and spacing of the fractures to assess more regarding their formation processes.
