The intricate patterns and swirls of this Martian landscape are caused by spring thawing. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin
Although these frozen fields look like a picturesque winter wonderland covered in snow, this ice is actually composed of carbon dioxide frozen over the southern Southern Scopuli region of Mars. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express spotted this scene using its High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) during its 23,324th orbit around the Red Planet.
This image taken in June 2022 shows Earth slowly acclimating to the Martian summer, although the temperature is still -193 degrees Fahrenheit (-125 degrees Celsius). When the climate starts to warm, so does the ice. On the left side of the image, darker areas show where the ice has sublimated, or turned from ice to vapor.
Swirling patterns across the region are created when solar radiation warms dark areas beneath the ice before the ice melts. This sublimated gas eventually escapes and throws dust particles around. Martian winds carry this dust tens or hundreds of feet, forming various shapes on the ground.
Similar reactions on the Martian surface can form surface features in the form of spiders, fried eggs, lace and halos.
Mars is currently experiencing another spring, which began in November and will continue until the end of May 2025.
