Slope streaks in Acheron Fossae in 2010Dark slope streaks in Arabia Terra as seen by Mars Orbital Camera (MOC) on Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. The darkest streaks are only about 10% darker than their surroundings. The greater apparent contrast in the image is due to contrast enhancement[1] Image is 1.65 km (1 mi) across. North is at bottom.
Dark slope streaks are narrow, avalanche-like features common on dust-covered slopes in the equatorial regions of Mars.[2] They form in relatively steep terrain, such as along escarpments and crater walls.[3] Although first recognized in Viking Orbiter images from the late 1970s,[4][5] dark slope streaks were not studied in detail until higher-resolution images from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft became available in the late 1990s and 2000s.[1][6]
The physical process that produces dark slope streaks is still uncertain. They are most likely caused by the mass movement of loose, fine-grained material on oversteepened slopes (i.e., dust avalanches).[1][7][8] The avalanching disturbs and removes a bright surface layer of dust to expose a darker substrate.[9] The role that water and other volatiles plays, if any, in streak formation is still debated.[10] Slope streaks are particularly intriguing because they are one of the few geological phenomena that can be observed occurring on Mars in the present day.[11][12][13][14][15]
^ abcSullivan, R. et al. (2001). Mass Movement Slope Streaks Imaged by the Mars Orbiter Camera. J. Geophys. Res.,106(E10), 23,607–23,633.
^Chuang, F.C.; Beyer, R.A.; Bridges, N.T. (2010). Modification of Martian Slope Streaks by Eolian Processes. Icarus,205 154–164.
^Schorghofer, N.; Aharonson, O.; Khatiwala, S. (2002). Slope Streaks on Mars: Correlations with Surface Properties and the Potential Role of Water. Geophys. Res. Lett.,29(23), 2126, doi:10.1029/2002GL015889.
^Morris, E.C. (1982). Aureole Deposits of the Martian Volcano Olympus Mons. J. Geophys. Res.,87(B2), 1164–1178.
^Ferguson, H.M.; Lucchitta, B.K. (1984). Dark Streaks on Talus Slopes, Mars in Reports of the Planetary Geology Program 1983, NASA Tech. Memo., TM-86246, pp. 188–190. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19840015363_1984015363.pdf.
^Chuang, F.C. et al. (2007). HiRISE Observations of Slope Streaks on Mars. Geophys. Res. Lett.,34 L20204, doi:10.1029/2007GL031111.
^Sullivan, R.; Daubar, I.; Fenton, L.; Malin, M.; Veverka, J. (1999). Mass-Movement Considerations for Dark Slope Streaks Imaged by the Mars Orbiter Camera. 30th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1809. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/LPSC99/pdf/1809.pdf.
^Webster, Guy; Brown, Dwayne (December 10, 2013). "NASA Mars Spacecraft Reveals a More Dynamic Red Planet". NASA. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
^Kreslavsky, M.A.; Head, J.W. (2009). Slope Streaks on Mars: A New "Wet" Mechanism. Icarus,201 517–527.
^Aharonson, O.; Schorghofer, N.; Gerstell, M.F. (2003). Slope Streak Formation and Dust Deposition Rates on Mars. J. Geophys. Res.,108(E12), 5138, doi:10.1029/2003JE002123.
^Dundas, C. 2018. HIRISE OBSERVATIONS OF NEW MARTIAN SLOPE STREAKS. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083). 2026.pdf
^Junior, C. and T. Statella. 2023. Monitoring martian slope streaks in the northeast of Lysus sulci. Icarus. 406: 115737.
^Bhardwaj, A., et al. 2018. Are Slope Streaks Indicative of Global-Scale Aqueous Processes on Contemporary Mars? Reviews of Geophysics: Volume 57, Issue 1 p. 48-77
Darkslopestreaks are narrow, avalanche-like features common on dust-covered slopes in the equatorial regions of Mars. They form in relatively steep terrain...
The common surface features of Mars include darkslopestreaks, dust devil tracks, sand dunes, Medusae Fossae Formation, fretted terrain, layers, gullies...
Dark lines are DarkSlopeStreaks. Darkslopestreaks on mesa, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Location is Amazonis quadrangle. Darkslope streaks...
volcano, Olympus Mons has a very gently sloping profile. The average slope on the volcano's flanks is only 5%. Slopes are steepest near the middle part of...
program Darkslopestreaks, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Shapes of streaks have been affected by boulders. Color view of darkslopestreaks, as...
to see darkslopestreaks and layers. Tikhonravov Basin Streaks and layers, as seen by HiRISE. Scale bar is 500 meters long. Darkslopestreaks near the...
HiRISE under HiWish program. Some darkslopestreaks are visible. Layered mesa and mounds with darkslopestreaks, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program...
right of this picture. Click on image to see darkslopestreaks. The scale bar is 1000 meters long. Straight dark lines are where no data were collected. Research...
HiWish program Layers and darkslopestreaks in Lycus Sulci, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Layers and darkslopestreaks in Lycus Sulci, as seen...
believed to be caused by relatively recent flows of liquid water. Darkslopestreaks and dust devil tracks can have a striking appearance. Arcadia is the...
before being renamed. Arsia Mons is a shield volcano with a relatively low slope and a massive caldera at its summit. The southernmost of the three Tharsis...
formation of a graben, a set of faults that may have exposed an aquifer. Darkslopestreaks and troughts (fossae) are present in this quadrangle. Part of the...
Noctis Labyrinthus. Other interesting features are lava channels, Darkslopestreaks, pit crater chains, and large troughs (called fossae). Research published...
for a better view of darkslopestreaks. Layered features in Lycus Sulci, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Darkslopestreaks on mound in Lycus Sulci...
camera of Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). View of lobate debris apron along a slope. Image located in Arcadia quadrangle. Place where a lobate debris apron...
humans. Streaks are common across Mars and new ones appear frequently on steep slopes of craters, troughs, and valleys. The streaks are dark at first...
scientist from the 1960s to the 2000s, hypothesized that the "canals" were streaks of dust caused by wind on the leeward side of mountains and craters. A...
Global Information
