Detecting High ‐ Albedo Events in Craters in the Near ‐ Polar Permanent Ice Cap of Mars Using Visible and Infrared Images from (THEMIS) onboard the Mars Odyssey Mission.

• Main Author: Murtala Yisa
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ice cap
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.571.6363; http://www.utsa.edu/LRSG/Teaching/EES5053_Geo4093/Project report for Yisa Murtala Obafemi.pdf

THEMIS (thermal emission Imaging system) Images were observed for craters in the north polar cap. Infrared and visible Images from THEMIS were used to identify craters that contain water ‐ice and CO2 frost. The available THEMIS data both visible and infrared are spread throughout the Martian spring and summer with temperatures variation depending on the time and season image was taken. Images were downloaded to ENVI and various parameters and properties were obtained using analytical methods provided by ENVI. The result showed temperature variation spatially within and outside the crater and throughout the Martian years. The four Martian years available on the THEMIS were observed and discovered that year 2 and 3 are the years where water ice and CO2 frost can be clearly observed in the visible and infrared images. This project is based on observation of unknown craters at Latitude 73.00 N/ 164.50E, 70.50N / 103.50E, 810N / 77.210E, 77.40N/213.60E, 81.00N / 1900E and 730N/186.320E. These craters varies in size, latitude and morphology but appears to have a specific regional association on the surface that correlates with the distribution of subsurface regolith interpreted as an ice‐rich layer observed on Mars.