Mars Sand Dune Changes (3-D)

This observation is an example of tracking changes over time, here with sand dunes located within a crater in Syrtis Major, from (December 2007) to September 2011 (this image).

The time interval is approximately two Mars years, with lighting geometry that is very similar in the two images. In addition, the MRO spacecraft took both images at nearly the same roll angle. Changes can be readily apparent. Here are a series of zoomed views starting from part of the dune field and then zeroing in on the slip face of one dune. An animation shows how the dune slip face, and ripples on dune surface, have changed over two Mars years.

The dune appears to have moved a couple of meters. This demonstrates that this region of Mars has winds strong enough to move significant volumes of sand.

This is a stereo pair with ESP_024737_2005.

Image source: https://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_024025_2005