Scalloped Cliff Formations On Mars

This image is a portion of the North Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD) exposed at an outcrop by the troughs and scarps. The NPLD are stacked layers of dusty water ice, approximately 2 kilometers deep and 1,000 kilometers wide.

These layers have different fraction of ice and dust content. The layered deposits record deposition and erosion history with in them. The transitions between erosion and accumulation can result in unconformities that are observed at the surface by optical instruments.

This image highlights the scallop-like cliff formation in the layering exposed at an outcrop of an NPLD spiral trough. These scalloped cliffs extend for kilometers and immediately overlay stratigraphic angular unconformities. It is hypothesized that these cliffs are formed due to the varying erosional resistance of layers and that their unique wavy appearance is due to the wind scouring at an angle.

ID: ESP_079343_2640
date: 30 June 2023
altitude: 318 km
https://www.uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_079343_2640