…extensive yardang fields shaped by Martian winds.
At first glance, the image may appear slightly out of focus. Surprisingly, when zooming in, a field of yardangs reveals itself within the reddish-toned region – contributing to that initial impression of “blurriness” (see annotated image). These streamlined ridges are carved into bedrock or compacted sediment by persistent, unidirectional winds, which erode softer material more quickly than harder layers. The boundary between this yardang-rich, reddish area and the neighboring darker terrain is clearly defined – the darker surface lacks such features. The absence of yardangs there could indicate differences in surface composition, rock hardness, or variations in wind erosion intensity across the region. Aeolian processes, including the formation of yardangs, remain some of the most active geological forces on Mars today, particularly in low-lying areas like Arcadia Planitia, where wind continues to sculpt the landscape over time.