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White Paper

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  1. NOTE ADDED BY JPL WEBMASTER: This document was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center. The content has not been approved or adopted by, NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology. This document is being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology. White Paper Timothy N. Titus U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center

  2. The Polar Regions:Where the atmosphere becomes the surface. & the surface becomes the atmosphere.

  3. Acknowledgements • Thomas Prettyman - PSI • Tim Michaels - SwRI • Josh Bandfield – U. of Wash. • Sylvain Piqueux – Ariz. State U. • Robert Haberle – NASA ARC • Ralph Lorenz – APL • Francois Forget - IPSL • Yves Langevin - Université Paris-Sud MEPAG Providence, RI

  4. 36 Registered Attendees United States France Russia Germany Switzerland Spacecraft Instrument Teams Atmospheric Modelers GCM Mesoscale Thermal Inertia Laboratory Experimentalists Spectroscopists Mars Polar Energy Balance Workshop MEPAG Providence, RI

  5. HiRISE CRISM CTX Marci OMEGA THEMIS Neutron Spectrometer TES MOLA MOC Mars Polar Energy Balance Workshop MEPAG Providence, RI

  6. Why should you care? • 25-30% of the Mars Atmosphere is cycled through the polar caps annually • Understanding the current climate is a precursor to understanding Mars past climates. • Most dynamically Active Place today • CO2 Jets & the carving of “spiders.” • CO2 Ice Snow Storms MEPAG Providence, RI

  7. Priorities for the Next Decade(The Teenage Years of the 21st Century) • Mars Polar Fundamental Research & Data Analysis Program • Mars Polar Research is inter-disciplinary. • Mars Fundamental Research • Mars Data Analysis • CO2 Ice Laboratory Experiments • What are the densities of the seasonal and residual CO2 ices as a function of space & time? • Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere. • Measurements of the mixture ratios of the Non-condensable Gas Enhancement in the polar region. MEPAG Providence, RI

  8. Mars Polar Fundamental Research & Data Analysis Program(s) • Mars Polar Fundamental Research • CO2 Ice Laboratory Experiments • Spectral Properties of mixtures under Mars conditions • Physical Properties of mixtures under Mars conditions • Mars Data Analysis • More allocated funds to analyze the data we have. • More interdisciplinary cross-platform research MEPAG Providence, RI

  9. What are the densities of the seasonal and residual CO2 ices as a function of space & time? • Height evolution of the seasonal caps • MOLA on Steroids • Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar • Higher spatial resolution of the Column Density of Seasonal CO2. • Collimated Thermal Neutron Detector MEPAG Providence, RI

  10. Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere. Pressure is the heartbeat of the Climate MEPAG Providence, RI

  11. Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere. • Long-term Stability of the SPRC MEPAG Providence, RI

  12. Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere. • Long-term Stability of the SPRC • Pressure measurements accurate to a few Pascal per Mars decade. • Surface Pressure • E.g. RTG Polar Lander. • Network landers. • Orbital Measurements • Telescopic Measurements MEPAG Providence, RI

  13. Measurements of the mixture ratios of the Non-condensable Gas Enhancement in the polar region. • Can increases in the mixing ratio of non-condensable gasses account for observed super-saturation of the atmosphere in the polar night? • What are the implications for CO2 cloud and snow formation? MEPAG Providence, RI

  14. Mars Polar EnergyBalance & CO2 Cycle Priorities • Establish a Mars Polar Fundamental Research & Data Analysis Program • Mars Fundamental Research • Mars Data Analysis • CO2 Ice experiments under Mars conditions • Determine the densities of the seasonal and residual CO2 ices as a function of space & time. • Establish long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere. • Measure the mixture ratios of the Non-condensable Gas Enhancement in the polar region as a function of space & time. MEPAG Providence, RI

  15. Backup Slides MEPAG Providence, RI

  16. Mars Polar Discovery Highlights • TES discovered that jets of dusty gas produce dark markings on the south polar cap. • TES discovered why the "Mountains of Mitchel" remain bright well into local spring. • THEMIS solves Martian polar riddle of Jets. • THEMIS confirms water ice at Mars polar cap MEPAG Providence, RI

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