Seasonal flows on warm Martian slopes

Seasonal flows on warm Martian slopes (also called recurring slope lineae, recurrent slope lineae and RSL) are thought to be salty water flows occurring during the warmest months on Mars.

The flows are narrow (0.5 to 5 meters) and exhibit relatively dark markings on steep (25° to 40°) slopes, appear and incrementally grow during warm seasons and fade in cold seasons. Liquid brines near the surface almost certainly explain this activity, but the exact source of the water and the mechanism behind its motion are not understood. On October 5, 2015, possible RSLs were reported on Mount Sharp near the Curiosity rover.