Layered Ice Deposits near North Pole of Mars (False Color)
Caption:
This false-color image from HiRISE image
PSP_001738_2670
of the north polar layered deposits has been processed to emphasize color variations. It shows that the color as well as texture or morphology varies from layer to layer. Some of the color variations may be caused by small amounts of water frost on the surface, or they may be due to variations in dust composition within the layered deposits. Such changes in composition may have been caused by volcanic eruptions or local weather phenomena when the layers were deposited. Overall, it is thought that the polar layered deposits contain a record of recent climate changes on Mars, similar to ice ages on Earth. High-resolution images like this will be useful in the effort to understand the climate history of Mars.
Cataloging Keywords:
| Name |
Value |
Additional Values |
| Target |
Mars |
|
| System |
|
|
| Target Type |
Planet |
|
| Mission |
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) |
|
| Instrument Host |
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter |
|
| Host Type |
Orbiter |
|
| Instrument |
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) |
|
| Detector |
|
|
| Extra Keywords |
Color, Dust, Volcano, Water |
| Acquisition Date |
|
| Release Date |
2007-09-20 |
| Date in Caption |
|
|
| Image Credit |
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona |
| Source |
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10003 |
| Identifier |
PIA10003 |
