Catastrophic Outflow Features in Tharsis Region
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Catastrophic Outflow Features in Tharsis Region
PSP_005361_2005  Science Theme: Fluvial Processes
This image shows streamlined features in the northwest Tharsis region. The trough running diagonally to the left near the bottom of the image is part of the Jovis Fossae, a series of parallel troughs.

Streamlined features are carved by catastrophic floods. When a flood encounters an object, it diverts around it and erodes material in its path. One great example of a streamlined island is at the top left of the image between the branch of the channels. The flow was likely from the right to the left, as suggested by the fact that the island tapers off to the left. Part of the island stands higher than the rest. This section was probably higher than the floodwaters reached.

There is another streamlined island about one third of the way down the image. This island is very narrow, and its shape is also consistent with the flood coming from the right.

This island has a couple of dark slope streaks, as does an elongated mesa near the Jovis fossa (trough) at the bottom of the image. It is thought that small impacts and rockfalls can initiate the dust avalanches that are currently believed to form the slope streaks. The dark material for the slope streaks probably came from the dark layers visible at the top of the mesa; see subimage, approximately 300 meters (328 yards) across.

Written by: Kelly Kolb  (24 October 2007)

This is a stereo pair with PSP_004860_2005.
 
Acquisition date
18 September 2007

Local Mars time
14:01

Latitude (centered)
20.489°

Longitude (East)
241.651°

Spacecraft altitude
277.1 km (172.2 miles)

Original image scale range
30.7 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~92 cm across are resolved

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel and North is up

Map projection
Equirectangular

Emission angle
26.4°

Phase angle
69.5°

Solar incidence angle
48°, with the Sun about 42° above the horizon

Solar longitude
315.8°, Northern Winter

For non-map projected images
North azimuth:  97°
Sub-solar azimuth:  313.9°
JPEG
Black and white
map projected  non-map

IRB color
map projected  non-map

Merged IRB
map projected

Merged RGB
map projected

RGB color
non-map projected

JP2
Black and white
map-projected   (2794MB)

IRB color
map-projected   (1117MB)

JP2 EXTRAS
Black and white
map-projected  (1587MB)
non-map           (1228MB)

IRB color
map projected  (664MB)
non-map           (813MB)

Merged IRB
map projected  (663MB)

Merged RGB
map-projected  (636MB)

RGB color
non map           (784MB)
ANAGLYPHS
Map-projected, reduced-resolution
Full resolution JP2 download
Anaglyph details page

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
B&W label
Color label
Merged IRB label
Merged RGB label
EDR products
HiView

NB
IRB: infrared-red-blue
RGB: red-green-blue
About color products (PDF)

Black & white is 5 km across; enhanced color about 1 km
For scale, use JPEG/JP2 black & white map-projected images

USAGE POLICY
All of the images produced by HiRISE and accessible on this site are within the public domain: there are no restrictions on their usage by anyone in the public, including news or science organizations. We do ask for a credit line where possible:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

POSTSCRIPT
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.