QUOTE (RGClark @ Mar 17 2006, 08:15 PM)
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Anyone know how recent the article suggests they are?
One should note that Chavdarian and Sumner use similar features in White Sands to analogize to Meridiani Planum, Mars. With respect to the word "recent" as they apply it to Mars, the authors, not surprisingly, are very careful in not giving a specific time interval. Having said that, I'll note that the authors refer to field work at White Sands in 2005 where changes were observed on the period of months:
QUOTE
In January [2005], cracks were ubiquitous along interdune-dune boundaries and across erosional surfaces on dune slopes. The cracked sand was moist and cohesive, consistent with active crack growth. In contrast, cracked sand on dune slopes in March [2005] and June [2005] was dry and not cohesive, and cracks were filled with loose sand, implying that cracks were not actively forming. Cracks were abundant; all exposures of cemented sand on stoss surfaces showed cracks once surficial sand was removed. Moist, actively forming cracks were present along the interdune-dune oundaries in March, but were absent in June [2005] when sand was dry.