Resources
Avalanche Season
Source:
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Published:
September 3, 2019
Historical Date:
May 29, 2019
An avalanche near the north pole of Mars, as observed by the HiRISE instrument aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Every spring the Sun shines on the side of the stack of layers at the north pole of Mars known as the north polar layered deposits. The warmth destabilizes the ice and blocks break loose.
When they reach the bottom of the more than 500-meter (1600-foot) tall cliff face, the blocks kick up a cloud of dust. The layers beneath are different colors and textures depending on the amount of dust mixed with ice.
Written by: Candy Hansen
