Journal articles
No signature of clear CO2 ice from the 'cryptic' regions in Mars' south seasonal polar cap
Abstract : The seasonal polar ice caps of Mars are composed mainly of CO2 ice(1,2). A region of low (< 30%) albedo has been observed within the south seasonal cap during early to mid-spring(3,4). The low temperature of this 'cryptic region' has been attributed to a clear slab of nearly pure CO2 ice, with the low albedo resulting from absorption by the underlying surface(4). Here we report near-infrared imaging spectroscopy of the south seasonal cap. The deep and broad CO2 absorption bands that are expected in the near-infrared with a thick transparent slab of CO2 ice are not observed. Models of the observed spectra indicate that the low albedo results from extensive dust contamination close to the surface of a CO2 ice layer, which could be linked to atmospheric circulation patterns(5,6). The strength of the CO2 absorption increases after mid-spring, so part of the dust is either carried away or buried more deeply in the ice layer during the CO2 ice sublimation process.
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00357235
Contributor : Béatrice Pibaret-Bourdon <>
Submitted on : Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 6:00:20 PM
Last modification on : Friday, January 8, 2021 - 12:16:03 PM
Contributor : Béatrice Pibaret-Bourdon <>
Submitted on : Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 6:00:20 PM
Last modification on : Friday, January 8, 2021 - 12:16:03 PM
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