Summer evolution of the north polar cap of Mars as observed by OMEGA/Mars Express.
The Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces, et l'Activité (OMEGA) visible-infrared imaging spectrometer extensively observed regions of Mars with latitudes above 70 degrees N in late 2004 (heliocentric longitude from Ls 93 degrees to Ls 127 degrees ). The extent of water ice at the surface and the size of ice grains were monitored as a function of time. Bright, small-grained frost, which initially covered a large fraction of the polar cap, waned in favor of large-grained ice. In outlying regions, dominated by large-grained ice, the albedo increased over the period. Evaluating the dust content was model dependent. However, contamination of ice by dust was low.
Langevin
Y
Y
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS-Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France. yves.langevin@ias.u-psud.fr
Poulet
F
F
Bibring
J-P
JP
Schmitt
B
B
Douté
S
S
Gondet
B
B
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D007053:Ice; D018535:Mars; D012621:Seasons; D018531:Spacecraft; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014867:Water
D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide