Playa environments on Earth: Possible analogs for Mars.

Playas (dry lakes) are a type of lacustrine system that are dry most of the time, and can be flooded only occasionally. A playa environment, despite its dry conditions, is characterized by an active hydrological cycle. This is evidenced by a wide range of hydrogeological processes operating today or in the recent past. Therefore, playas are a fundamentally different environment from dry desiccated deserts, and identification of playas on Mars has significant implications for the planet’s hydroclimatic history.