Figure 16

Cartoon of change sequence. In this figure we illustrate the observed sequence of albedo changes in cartoon form. Subfigure (a) shows the surface prior to the 2010 September cloudburst, and subfigure (b) shows it during the cloudburst. The rainfall associated with the cloudburst wets areas of Equatorial Bright terrain (and some dune areas as well), darkening them (c). As the liquid dissipates, brightened areas with higher reflectivity than displayed originally appear in areas that had been previously darkened (d). In (e), some areas of brightened terrain have reverted to their pre-cloudburst state, while others that had stayed darkened for longer are now experiencing brightening. Finally in (f), the entire area has reverted to its pre-cloudburst state.