NASA has unveiled new insights into the fascinating phenomena of carbon dioxide geysers on Mars, captured by the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. These geysers, which can erupt with speeds reaching 160 km/h, create dark spots as large as 1 km across on the Martian surface, particularly during the transition from winter to spring.
The process begins when carbon dioxide freezes and forms a thick layer in the polar regions. As temperatures rise, sunlight penetrates this ice, warming the ground beneath. This causes the frozen CO2 to sublimate into gas, which builds up pressure and eventually escapes through weak spots in the ice, resulting in spectacular geyser eruptions.
Scientists have identified these features as araneiform terrain, or spider terrain, due to their unique, spider-like patterns. The Keiffer model explains this phenomenon, detailing how high-pressure gas beneath the ice leads to the eruptions that form these striking geological features. The research, originally published in 2006, emphasizes that such processes are unprecedented compared to geological phenomena on Earth.
Lauren McKeown from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory remarked on the beauty and strangeness of these Martian features, indicating that they offer a glimpse into the planet's dynamic processes. The ongoing study of these geysers not only enhances our understanding of Mars but also highlights the planet's unique geological characteristics, setting it apart from Earth.