MSIP Project Lakewood High School 4th period 9th grade science May 2nd, 2014

Does the dark sand cascades area appear earlier in the year when the Sun has increased activity, especially more X-flares? Science Question This question is important to us because we believe its never been done before and it’s interesting and stands out from all other things. We are curiosity about the energy of solar flares effecting the surface of Mars by using dark sand cascades as an example.

Preliminary background of THEMIS images What geographic regions did you observe these features on Mars? regions did you observe these features on Mars? As a class we looked at many, many images. We became interested in the polar regions. We originally began to focus on storms and other wind features. Then as we researched we came across the dark sand cascades image and it really sparked our curiosity.

Hypothesis If a large solar flare hits the polar region then we think that the dark sand cascades will be effected and become darker in color because there will be less ice and more sand exposed. Therefore, we hypothesize that during Mars’ Springtime the Dark Sand Cascades will appear earlier in years that have more significant X-flares than in years with less.

Dark Sand Cascades Area This is the area we refer to as the dark sand cascades are and is located on the map with the white dot. Latitude: 118 E Longitude: 83

How are the Dark Sand Cascades thought to be formed? Dark brown streaks across the pink sand dunes on the red planet have appearance of trees. Over winter, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere freezes forming an icy layer over the dunes and evaporates in the spring when warmed by the Sun.

Similar Features on Earth There are sand dunes in Brazil that are frosted over, called the Lencois Maranhenses Sand Dunes. These dunes are found farther of North East Brazil. The valleys get filled with water at times due to the low-lying lands that often flood during the wet season. You can also find some fish in the water at these times.

Mars Magnetosphere Mars does not have the same kind of magnetic field as Earth. But evidence indicates that the planet may have once had a global magnetic field, generated by an internal dynamo.

X-Flares What is a Solar Flare? A solar flare is a sudden flash of brightness observed over the Sun’s surface which releases large amounts of energy.

Solar flare categories picture ` We have chosen to use x-class flares because the x-class flares are the most energetic and they will be able to affect the surface more.

The number of sunspots increase and decrease over time in a pattern, 11-year cycle, called the solar cycle. The exact length of the cycle can vary. More sunspots mean increased solar activity—flares or sunspots. The highest number of sun spots in a cycle is called "solar maximum," while the lowest number is called "solar minimum. In 2008 the sunspot number was a very low. Then in 2010 the number of sunspots was rising up throughout the year. Now in 2014 the sunspot numbers are up to the 100.

Does Mars Have Seasons? Does Mars have seasons? Yes, Mars has seasons. The planet experiences all four seasons that the Earth does, but, since the year is longer on Mars than Earth, the axial tilt is different, but the seasons are not the same length as each other or the same in each hemisphere.

Why does Mars have Seasons? The reason Mars has seasons is because the axis is tilted.

The solar longitude is the angle of the sun and the planet that determines what time of year or in other words, what season it is. (we are mainly investigating 0-90 degrees solar longitude which is spring)

Experiment Design We want to use THEMIS and or HiRise images from JMARS. The area we want to focus on is It is called the dark sand cascade regions, latitude is 83.5 northern, and the longitude is 118.6 east.

The websites we are using Curiosity.discovery.com Jmars Space.com Coolcosmos.ipaccaltech.edu Themis.asu.edu Nasa.gov/returntoflight/systemorbiter.html http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-surreal-landscapes-on-earth-2013-7?op=1

Martian years and start dates of northern hemisphere seasons Mars year Spring equinox  (Ls = 0°) Summer solstice  (Ls = 90°) Autumnal equinox  (Ls = 180°) Winter solstice  (Ls = 270°)

Experiment Plan

The effect of x-class solar flares on the dark sand cascades The dark sand cascades are heavily effected by the x-class solar flares because the x-class flares melt the ice on the top of the cascades to release the dark sand in the cascades. If the cascades are getting bigger then the older photos every time then the cascades are loosing there ice layers faster then they can be replaced in the new photos.

Analysis

Analysis Plan Date of solar flare Solar flare classification Time of solar flare Season on Mars Time of day on Mars Average color of the surface   March 29, 2014 April 18, 2014 April 24, 2014

Graphs We will graph dates of level X solar flares versus darkness/color or the area or some other way to quantify that more sand is exposed. We will graph other times with no recent solar flares and the darkness/color of the area. Then we can compare these two graphs to see if there has been a change due to solar flares or not.

Conclusion

Conclusion Does the dark sand cascades area darken within 6 weeks of a strong solar flare/storm? If the large solar flare hits the polar region I think that the dark sand cascades will be affected. The area should become darker in color because there is less ice as it is melted/sublimated from the surface. Never been done before and it’s very interesting and stands out from all the other things. The curiosity of the energy of a solar flare effect the surface of mars by using the dark sand cascades as an example.

References Not ready today... sorry

Thank you!!