Hyperboreae Undae

Stereographic projection map showing the density distribution of dune fields in the Planum Boreum region. The grey regions are lower density fields. The four densest dune fields are shown in black. The prime meridian is at the bottom of the map. Hyperboreae Undae is shown on the left, between longitude 302.92°E to 316.02°E (43.98°W – 57.08°W).

Hyperboreae Undae (Latin: "Far Northern Waves/Dunes") is one of the largest and densest dune fields of Planum Boreum, the Martian North Pole.[1] It is named after one of the classical albedo features on Mars.[2] Its name was officially approved by IAU in 1988. It extends from latitude 77.12°N to 82.8°N and from longitude 302.92°E to 316.02°E (43.98°W – 57.08°W).[2] Its centre is at latitude 79.96°N, longitude 49.49°W, and has a diameter of 463.65 kilometres (288.10 mi).[2]

Hyperboreae Undae is southwest of the Boreum Cavus depression, an arc-like depression at the northeastern boundary of Chasma Boreale. From there, Hyperboreae Undae continues in a southwestern direction through Chasma Boreale, and into the lowlands of Vastitas Borealis.[3] It overlays the eastern part of Hyperboreae Lingua and the region above Escorial crater.[4]

Hyperboreae Undae is well known for the barchanoid and linear dunes that have formed at its location, although they are seemingly incompatible.[5] Research has been ongoing to explain the coexistence of these types of dunes at Hyperboreae Undae and elsewhere on Mars.[5] Another type of formation found at Hyperboreae Undae is the yardang.[5]

  1. ^ K. L. Tanaka, R. K. Hayward. "Mars' North Circum-Polar Dunes: Distribution, Sources, and Migration History" (PDF). Planetary Dunes Workshop: A Record of Climate Change (2008). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ a b c "Hyperboreae Undae". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS.
  3. ^ Kenneth L. Tanaka, J. Alexis P. Rodriguez, James A. Skinner Jr., Mary C. Bourke, Corey M. Fortezzo, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Eric J. Kolb, Chris H. Okubo (28 February 2008). "North polar region of Mars: Advances in stratigraphy, structure, and erosional modification". Icarus. 196 (2): 318–358. Bibcode:2008Icar..196..318T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.01.021. Retrieved 25 August 2017.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ T. Kneissl*, S. Van Gasselt, L. Wendt, C. Gross & G. Neukum (eds) (2011). "Layering and degradation of the Rupes Tenuis unit, Mars – astructural analysis south of Chasma Boreale". Martian Geomorphology. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 356 (1): 257–279. Bibcode:2011GSLSP.356..257K. doi:10.1144/SP356.13. S2CID 128496186. {{cite journal}}: |author1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b c S. Christian and G. Kocurek (2012). "Combining Mesoscale Wind Modeling with Dune Field Analysis to Constrain Modern Wind Regime, Hyperboreae Undae, Mars" (PDF). 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.