The South Pole of Mars
Explanation:
The south pole
of
Mars is the bright area near the center of the detailed,
subtly shaded color image above.
Recorded in September of this year by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
spacecraft,
the
picture shows a region surrounding the 400 kilometer
wide
martian
polar cap in the midst of southern hemisphere
spring.
During this season
the
ice cap, predominantly layers of frozen
carbon
dioxide (
dry ice)
plus some water ice, begins to shrink as the ices change directly
from solid to gas (sublimate).
Hazy clouds of
ice crystals
and fog, extend across the bottom
of the picture and a darker, more defrosted area is visible at the
upper right, near the
Red Planet's night side.
A wealth of
MGS data has allowed changes in
the
extent and density of the ice cap to be tracked over time.
Now, researchers are also reporting indications that, in addition
to
seasonal changes, overall the martian southern
ice cap has been dwindling in recent years --
dramatic evidence of
a changing martian
climate.
At the measured rate, the increasing amount of
carbon dioxide released
could gradually raise Mars' atmospheric presure, doubling it over
hundreds to thousands of
martian years.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
