title: Topography of the northern hemisphere of Mars from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter.
abstract: The first 18 tracks of laser altimeter data across the northern hemisphere of Mars from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft show that the planet at latitudes north of 50 degrees is exceptionally flat; slopes and surface roughness increase toward the equator. The polar layered terrain appears to be a thick ice-rich formation with a non-equilibrium planform indicative of ablation near the periphery. Slope relations suggest that the northern Tharsis province was uplifted in the past. A profile across Ares Vallis channel suggests that the discharge through the channel was much greater than previously estimated. The martian atmosphere shows significant 1-micrometer atmospheric opacities, particularly in low-lying areas such as Valles Marineris.
authors.affiliation: Earth Sciences Directorate, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Garvin
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Muhleman
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Pettengill
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zwally
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Banerdt
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Duxbury
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D007053:Ice; D018535:Mars; D018531:Spacecraft
chemical_list: D007053:Ice