The European Space Agency recently released satellite images taken by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spacecraft a few days ago of the sand dunes at the North Pole of Mars.
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter image captures Mars. (Photo: CNN).
Sand is indicated in blue, scattered over the ridges. (Photo: CNN).
Winter at the poles on the Red Planet causes carbon dioxide to solidify into a thin layer over the dunes. In the spring, this “ice” turns into steam, thawing occurs from the bottom of the dune. As the ice melts, gas gushes out from the cracks, followed by sand. This phenomenon creates an ice-cream-shaped coating on the surface of Mars.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft also recorded the latest images from the Danielson Crater crater.
On the photo, it is clear that the rock and sand are frozen after being glued together. The amount of sediment in the crater varies over the years. Some areas still exist while others are wiped out. This causes layers of raised terraces.