They're Alive! Present-Day Evolution of Martian Dunes

The sharp brinks and margins, smooth and steep lee slopes, and lack of superimposed landforms (such as small impact craters) on many Martian sand dunes suggests that these features are geologically young clean brinks and smooth/steep lee slopes (HiRISE image PSP_010413_1920; 20 deg N,79 deg E; image widthis about 500m).Within the last decade, and often primarily through the detailed inspection of high-resolution (HiRISE) images, we have finally found clear evidence that many dunes of Mars are active -- through both aeolian and seasonal (frost) processes. However, it is yet unclear if active dune formation does occur or if we are observing surficial modification of dunes which formed under different climate conditions.