The Russell Crater dune field is covered seasonally by carbon dioxide frost. This image shows the dune field after the frost has sublimated, or evaporated directly from solid to gas. There are just a few patches left of the bright seasonal frost.

October 20, 2010

The Russell Crater dune field is covered seasonally by carbon dioxide frost. This image shows the dune field after the frost has sublimated, or evaporated directly from solid to gas. There are just a few patches left of the bright seasonal frost.

Numerous dark dust devil tracks can be seen meandering across the dunes. The face of the largest dune is lined with gullies. Erosion, caused by the sublimating seasonal carbon dioxide ice, could be the source of the gullies.

Credits

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

ENLARGE

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