Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: active geyser vs passive spot

re: active geyser vs passive spot
Michael Gmirkin — (archived)

I suppose we could just take a single exmple:

http://www.martianspiders.com/e0800043.jpg.htm

In this photo it's pretty easy to see the association of streaking with arc discharges.

Note the Spider nearly dead center. It's got what, 2-3 streaks over it. the tink spider to the right has a single black streak associated with it. The spider down and to the left has appx 4-5 streaks associated with it. The on just to the left anddown right next to it slightly off frame has about 3-5 streaks associated with it. Note that the diagonal down and to the right of the these spiders has almost NO streaking associated with it. Also, between the three major spiders there are essentially no streaks. 2 teeny tiny ones In the lower right, we see an area with several closely associated streaks, likely from dust devils. However there appears to be no spiders evident there. So these were likely just charge sheaths where the atmosphere never reached dielectric breakdown sufficient to create a channel to ground for a lightning bolt. But in any event you can see that there is basically a large bare patch between the spiders and each other with all but NO streaking. And a large patch below them with all but no streaking. However, there is streaking directly OVER the spiders.

Now, if we move up to the upper left portion of the image. Note that we again get streaking associated with the linear-looking discharge. Again the streaking appears to follow the same line as the discharge, with streaking starting approximately in the location OF the discharge. Now why would streaking appear in such a linear pattern? And in a line directly over or starting from the linear pattern of what I'm calling electrical discharge? Why would therre be such a preferential configuration unless they're intimately associated?

So, we've got heavy streaking over spiders, with mostly clear terrain in the interim. We've got streaking in a line over liner-looking "spiders" again in a preferential association. This is what I'm talking about. And it may simply be that we don't have the resolution to see spiders associated with the streaking in the lower right quadrant. But even if there isn't spidering, there really doesn't have to be if they're simply electrical charring from dust devils that didn't rise to the level of dielectric breakdown.

I look forward to our next repartee.

But, again...

http://www.martianspiders.com/e0702165b.jpg.htm

Note, the left middle spider is closely associated with streaking. The bottom middle spider is faint but there and associated with streaking. The middle spider just above center: streaking. And though it's hard to make out, I'm pretty sure there's a spider associate with the right side of the larger black streaking area in the top right of the frame. Again this appears to be preferential association with streaks overlaying the spiders and appearing almost nowhere else in frame. There's nothing in the lowerleft quadrant, there's nothing the the space between the triangle of spiders mid-frame. The dark patches up top and to the right are associated with spidering. To my eyes, this is preferential.

I'd provide more photos, but I'm sure that now you know what to look for? Since I've gone on about it long enough and in enough detail that you can do a bit more looking on your own through your photo archive. :) I'm sure you'll find plenty more now that you know what to look for! I did... ;o] Just need an open mind and a keen eye to spot it and put it together.

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