Perspective view of dust devil tracks in Chalcoporos Rupes
Perspective view of dust devil tracks in Chalcoporos Rupes
This pattern of dark, narrow, thread-like stripes was created by small whirlwinds, or dust devils, which are caused by atmospheric turbulence. When a dust devil travels across the Martian surface, it lifts a thin layer of light-coloured sand from the ground, exposing the darker material beneath. The tracks mark the paths taken by the dust devils. The trails left by dust devils on the Martian surface can be up to several hundred metres wide and several kilometres long. Their lifespan is relatively short, as they tend to be covered over again by light-coloured sand, especially after dust storms, so that they disappear within a matter of days or months. The image shows an area approximately 50 kilometres across.
