Could it also be explained by saltation[1]? If avalanches can behave like a fluid due to a saltation layer, and saltation can happen to sand particles in wind, then couldn't the streaks be caused by sand/wind instead of water?
Any geologists reading that could offer an opinion? Would this part of the article support this hypothesis:
> Some of the streaks seem to begin at the tops of ridges, too close to the surface to easily be explained by subsurface aquifers
Any geologists reading that could offer an opinion? Would this part of the article support this hypothesis:
> Some of the streaks seem to begin at the tops of ridges, too close to the surface to easily be explained by subsurface aquifers
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltation_(geology)