Amazonis Yardangs

26 August 2005
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows yardangs -- a typical ridge pattern formed by wind erosion -- in southern Amazonis. Some time after the wind erosion occurred, conditions changed and, instead of erosion, the region experienced deposition by a relatively thin, uniform coating of dust. It is this coating of dust that gives the region a monotone appearance. Dark streaks occurring on slopes are formed by avalanching of the dry dust.

Location near: 10.1°N, 156.9°W
Image width: width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from: lower left
Season: Northern Autumn