Polygonal ground

Space/Science » in reply to The shape of the surface seems oddly patterned.

Polygonal ground

nick hoffman — 5/26/2008 2:55:03 AM (archived)

common in polar regions on earth due to expansion and contraction of water ice.

"normally" it's driven by freeze-thaw cycles but it can also be caused without thawing by simple thermal expansion and contraction over long periods of time. The latter is more likely on Mars, imho...

The whole thread (42 posts)

Nasa TV coverage of Phoenix landing starting now - ARRELL - 5/25/2008 10:40:24 PM
- I'M STUNNED!!...THE LATEST IMAGE IS OF THE PHOENIX ITSELF WITH ITS PARACHUTE!!!...AWESOME!!! - Jacob - 5/26/2008 6:55:22 PM
  - re: Looks like they snapped that one shortly after chute deployment, but they said that they'll check on that. - Marcia - 5/26/2008 7:09:12 PM
    - Image and link - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 7:19:32 PM
      - That is a seriously impressive piece of targeting work. (n/t) - TB - 5/26/2008 9:59:38 PM
      - re: Fabulous ! - Raoul - 5/26/2008 9:02:28 PM
        
        The link - Raoul - 5/26/2008 9:12:31 PM
        
        re: Another take on that one: - Marcia - 5/26/2008 10:03:54 PM
- Lots of cheers and applause and they ain't showing me SQUAT! (n/t) - TB - 5/26/2008 1:56:19 AM
  - Scratch that! PICTURES! (n/t) - TB - 5/26/2008 1:57:09 AM
    - Pix on the web already!!! - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 2:02:26 AM
      - Thanks! JPL doesn't have these yet. - TB - 5/26/2008 2:04:46 AM
        
        Pulling up Photoshop. I'm gonna MESS with these! - TB - 5/26/2008 2:07:58 AM
        
        The basic pictures are pretty as they are...no need to mess with them. (n/t) - Jacob - 5/26/2008 4:53:22 PM
        
        The shape of the surface seems oddly patterned. (n/t) - alcaray - 5/26/2008 2:17:55 AM
        
        Polygonal ground - nick hoffman - 5/26/2008 2:55:03 AM
        
        You used the word thaw, not sublimation. - Jacob - 5/26/2008 4:52:28 PM
        
        I was very specific in what I said. - nick hoffman - 5/27/2008 6:19:49 AM
        
        Thought experiment.... - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 6:06:35 AM
        
        Polygonal patterns... - ER - 5/26/2008 3:19:26 PM
        
        The polygonal patterns are not surprising... - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 3:31:44 PM
        
        Rocks - TB - 5/26/2008 3:47:08 PM
        
        not same process - JimO - 5/26/2008 5:16:37 PM
        
        re: Polygonal patterns... - ER - 5/26/2008 3:22:42 PM
        
        I think we might be looking at dirty ice. (n/t) - TB - 5/26/2008 2:34:02 AM
        
        I've been on ice covered with rocks and sand. Not 'in' the ice. - Bowser - 5/26/2008 4:16:45 AM
        
        re: I think we might be looking at dirty ice. - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 2:37:56 AM
        
        Looks a lot like Minnesota "snirt." - TB - 5/26/2008 4:21:42 AM
        
        re: Looks a lot like Minnesota "snirt." - Marcia - 5/26/2008 7:00:52 PM
- Data is being relayed by odyssey... data and (hopefully) images soon! (n/t) - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 1:49:05 AM
- Phoo! Missed the whole thing. - TB - 5/26/2008 1:46:00 AM
- Pretty nifty! - Algorithms - 5/26/2008 1:23:13 AM
- Descended the last few kilometers FAST! (n/t) - et - 5/26/2008 12:49:56 AM
- Yesss!!! flawless and text book landing - Jeff F - 5/26/2008 12:22:58 AM
  - Down and Safe - nick hoffman - 5/26/2008 12:39:16 AM
    - NASA TV 'word of the day' seems to be 'nominal'....:) - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 12:54:35 AM
- Cable Network TV coverage. - ER - 5/26/2008 12:21:38 AM
- Phoenix has landed and is alive!!! (n/t) - ARRELL - 5/25/2008 11:59:35 PM
  - Is it on solarpanels now or still working on batteries? (n/t) - Jacob - 5/26/2008 12:10:33 AM
    - I think they are awaiting confirmation of solar panel deployment (n/t) - ARRELL - 5/26/2008 12:19:12 AM
- PHOENIX HAS LANDED!!! But no confirmation of solarpanel deployment...yet. (n/t) - Jacob - 5/25/2008 11:58:55 PM
  - I was lucky I got the link to NASA TV working. - Jacob - 5/26/2008 12:03:10 AM

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