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jumbled and broken terrain in the picture is known as chaotic terrain. Chaotic
terrain was first observed in Mariner 6 and 7 images of Mars more than 30
years ago, and is thought to result from collapse after material--perhaps
water or ice--was removed from the subsurface by events such as the formation
of giant flood channels. The region shown here is named `Margaritifer Chaos'.
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The
high resolution view covers a small portion of the Margaritifer Chaos at
1.8 meters per pixel. The area shown is 3 km across. Uplands are lumpy with
small bright outcrops of bedrock. Lowlands or valleys in the chaotic terrain
have floors covered by light-toned windblown d rifts. This image is typical
of the very highest-resolution views of the equatorial latitudes of Mars.
Both pictures are illuminated from the left/upper left, north is toward
the top. |
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