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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1Cite as

Dark Streaks (Mars)

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Definition

Dark streaks is a general term for temporarily darkened surface patches occurring on various slopes on Mars (e.g., crater walls or dune faces) that display a range of morphologies (e.g., conical, linear, or braided). The darkening of the surface is believed to be caused by the removal of the surficial dust cover due to dry grain flow, wetting of the soil, or fluvial activity. Over the course of months and years, the dark coloration fades away, which is presumably the result of the surficial accumulation of bright dust particles and/or drying of the soil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften Tektonik und Sedimentäre Geologie, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Alessandro Airo

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  1. Alessandro Airo
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Correspondence to Alessandro Airo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Airo, A. (2014). Dark Streaks (Mars). In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5092-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5092-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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