Mars' South Pole: CO₂ Ice, Geysers, and Avalanches

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ESA's Mars Express orbiter reveals stunning carbon dioxide ice formations at Mars' south pole, with temperatures plummeting to -193°F (-125°C).

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Massive 8-meter-thick layer of carbon dioxide ice maintains year-round presence at Mars' polar region, defying seasonal changes.

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Everything happens with a bang" on Mars compared to Earth's gradual spring melting, explains NASA JPL researcher Serina Diniega.

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Advanced imaging from Mars Express HRSC and NASA's HiRISE cameras document unique ice dynamics in Australe Scopuli region.

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Sublimation process creates dramatic surface patterns as gas pockets burst through ice layers, propelling dark dust skyward.

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Mars' thin atmosphere forces direct ice-to-gas conversion, triggering spectacular phenomena like gas geysers and 66-foot-wide frost avalanches.

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Texas-sized ice caps feature California-length troughs, showcasing Mars' colossal polar formations.

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Carbon dioxide frost plays crucial role in immobilizing polar sand dunes during Martian winters.

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Mars Express mission continues atmospheric mapping since 2003, while MRO monitors seasonal transformations since 2005.

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York University researcher Isaac Smith emphasizes unprecedented scale: similar Antarctic troughs pale in comparison to Martian formations.

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