Distinctive landscape features in the Martian lowlands
Distinctive landscape features in the Martian lowlands
Traces of volcanic activity, asteroid bombardment and wind erosion are visible at the transition to the northern lowlands of Amazonis Planitia. Old impact craters formed by small asteroids have been almost completely erased by erosion (brushed impact crater remnants). Traces of volcanic activity are much more recent: runny lava flowed here from the adjacent eastern volcanic regions (in the lower part of the image) and solidified to form structures known as platy flows. A large expanse of parallel rocky ridges, known as yardangs, was formed by wind erosion. At the time of impact, ice must have been present in the subsurface, melting and fluidising the ejecta – as indicated by the shape of the deposits around the crater (fluidised ejecta blanket).
