Northern Mars Landscape Actively Changing

Northern Mars Landscape Actively Changing

www.jpl.nasa.gov

Scientists had considered the dunes to be fairly static, shaped long ago when winds on the planet's surface were much stronger than those seen today, said HiRISE Deputy Principal Investigator Candice Hansen of the Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Ariz.
Several sets of before-and-after images from HiRISE over a period covering two Martian years -four Earth years -tell a different story.
"The numbers and scale of the changes have been really surprising," said Hansen.

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This is quite significant in my opinion!

Three images of the same location taken at different times on Mars show seasonal activity causing sand avalanches and ripple changes on a Martian dune. Time sequence of the images progresses from top to bottom. Each image covers an area 285 meters (312 yards) by 140 meters (153 yards). The crest of a dune curves across the upper and left portions of the image.

Nasa

to me,this only goes to show how little we actually know about Mars & the planets in our solar system.,Let alone our very own planet.

Is this simply a case of some natural change? or could it be linked to "cosmic-climate change" spreading throughout our solar system?

I suppose time will tell,let us hope it is the former and not the latter.

Something tells me this may be a cyclic,natural occurrence and a lot more is still to come.

This time-series of black and white and false-color images, from left to right at three sites in a field of transverse sand dunes on Mars, shows that extensive erosion has taken place in one Mars year. Credit: Science/AAAS

space.com

www.jpl.nasa.gov
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by PerfectPerception


Northern Mars Landscape Actively Changing

Yes, thats because our friends at NASA like to have a tinker every now and then and they have admitted doing so, any news article to do with NASA and MARS should be taken with a pinch of salt. Who knows whats really going on

reply to post by franspeakfree


I agree with not fully trusting NASA,although I still thought this may be of interest.& importance.
It is complicated separating the wheat from the chaff

What puzzles me somewhat about the pictoral evidences for these claims, is this. Why oh why , would you take a set of photographs with one camera, and then a set in the same location at a different time with another?
Surely if one is looking for a surface change, then taking the shots with the exact same camera, in the exact same colour range would be FAR more sensible?
Did I miss something here or am I just the only person thinking this ?

reply to post by TrueBrit

Now, before-and-after pictures taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter taken over two Martian years — the equivalent of four Earth years — reveal a different story.

From what I gathered it is the same camera,over different time periods...I think they use the color "false-color" for observational purposes,helps in comparison is my best guess maybe someone can come along and confirm an answer.
Speaking of 'pictorial' evidence,is it me,or don't these pictures almost look fake? like the close ups resemble some kind of miniature or model! I thought this article was definitely worth taking a look at

I blame the americans with their McDonalds, SUVs, and George Bush. If only they took more environmental practices like the enlightened ones of earth, we could save mars from disaster.

reply to post by PerfectPerception


I was wondering also ... you recall from the article that some suprise was said to be felt at this unexpected active landscape change.
You will also be aware of course that there is some broohaa at the moment about the poles shifting about here on Earth, and that there is some talk that perhaps that is causing the insane weather at the moment (although I tend to take that sort of proclaimation with a bucket of salt , while sitting on a salt flat, and eating taffy).
Is it a possibility that Mars itself has gone through some shift in its polar alignment?? I mean ours cannot be the only planet which goes through such alterations in status quo surely? Perhaps the winds that drive the landscape to change, have been kicked up by some sort of geomagnetic disturbance, messing with the weather on Mars?

I will admit I did not read the article or all of the comments so forgive me if this has been said already...

To me, it looks like water. It looks like flowing water. Based on the color and the valleys or what ever you want to call them that it seems to be forming. Or maybe it's some other liquid, who knows. But it looks like a liquid substance to me. If it's water it's not exactly the blue water you would find in the Caribbean, but I have seen dirtier water here on Earth. So I don't think that can be ruled out.

Just my uninformed opinion.

reply to post by TrueBrit


Nope... I thought about it too.

It even occurred to me that there may have been (or maybe currently is) a 'change' in the behavior of NASA and other such governmentally controlled institutions about what they tell us nowadays.

Perhaps the older pictured were part of a sanitized production, and the new ones are not... perhaps if they did use the same camera the prior manipulations would become glaringly obvious.

Bottom line: Due to their own behavior, the government's clear predilection for over classifying and controlling what is truthfully public information,. I can no longer take NASA pronouncements at face value. Hopefully someday, they can restore the confidence they used to command... but I doubt it. For now, everything they do and say calls for public scrutiny.... It's a shame really.

NASA is the property of the military industrial complex (along with most other countries' space programs), NOT the people of the country who bear the burden of paying for their enterprises.

reply to post by Maxmars


Yes, Mars tell a different story but not the same "sanitized" story that NASA tell!

www.abovetopsecret.com...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by Maxmars


While utterly understanding your veiw on NASA as a whole, I think a real folly lies before you if you totaly disregard everything they are saying. Its being able to yank the salient truths from thier spin tactics thats the key .
For instance, the amount of time they have spent denying the idea of life on other planets, and claiming that the mars rock that fell to earth was contaminated with terran microbes , when actualy it was rife with Martian ones, is terrible, and foolish. However the examinations which Kepler is involved with right now are superb, and offer up far more possible life harbouring planets than most of us were expecting.
There are good and bad points to NASA, and lets face it ,there are good and bad missions that they have undertaken. I also get what you are saying about them being a defense intelligence agency arm, but that doesnt stop them discovering something amazing every now and again.

reply to post by TrueBrit


I agree. I don't completely discount their discoveries. I merely resent the fact that I must question their intent and legitimacy, lest I blindly accept what on occasion turns out to be politically expedient or commercially 'prudent' 'cover' stories.

reply to [url= by 547000[/url]


You see we have these black triangle nuclear ufos...

They are taking SUV's up to mars and...

reply to post by Maxmars


I appreciate your vigilance, and it is a shame that you have to keep an eye on them lest they get one past you on the sly. Mind you , its the same with any government department. You have to keep an eye on your taxes, in case the buggers try and stiff you of your loose change, and you have to keep an eye on parking attendants in case they ticket you illegaly .
Admittedly its annoying, but its far better than not having a national space agency . Hell I should know , I live in the UK. We sort of have one, but we have never launched anything of our own from our own soil other than radiowaves.