PIA26409: Cryoconite Holes on Matanuska Glacier
These holes, captured on Alaska's Matanuska Glacier in July 2012, are formed by cryoconite – dust particles that melt into the ice over time, eventually forming small pockets of water below the glacier's surface.
 Target Name:  Earth
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Product Size:  4928 x 3264 pixels (w x h) 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA26409.tif (24.12 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA26409.jpg (923.8 kB)  

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Original Caption Released with Image:

These holes, captured on Alaska's Matanuska Glacier in July 2012, are formed by cryoconite – dust particles that melt into the ice over time, eventually forming small pockets of water below the glacier's surface. Scientists believe similar pockets of water – called cryoconite holes on Earth – could form within dusty water ice on Mars.

Image Credit:
Kimberly Casey CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Image Addition Date:
2024-10-17