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1. Artist concept showing sand-laden jets shoot into the Martian polar sky. By noted space artist Ron Miller. 2. Image of north polar ice cap taken by NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in 2021. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia24390-spring-sprouts-on-mars/ A layer of dry ice covers the sand dunes in this image. Gas jets sprout through the ice layer carrying dust and sand from the surface, showing up as dark fans. At this time in early Martian spring, the fans are visible between the sand dunes. The ground between the dunes is on the scale of tens of centimeters, and ice in places where the sun hits more directly will thin fastest, releasing the jets. Later, the ice over and around the dunes will rupture and more fans will appear on the dunes.