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Science 13 March 1998:
Vol. 279. no. 5357, pp. 1692 - 1698
DOI: 10.1126/science.279.5357.1692
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Reports

Results from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer

P. R. Christensen, * D. L. Anderson, S. C. Chase, R. T. Clancy, R. N. Clark, B. J. Conrath, H. H. Kieffer, R. O. Kuzmin, M. C. Malin, J. C. Pearl, T. L. Roush, M. D. Smith

The Thermal Emission Spectrometer spectra of low albedo surface materials suggests that a four to one mixture of pyroxene to plagioclase, together with about a 35 percent dust component provides the best fit to the spectrum. Qualitative upper limits can be placed on the concentration of carbonates (<10 percent), olivine (<10 percent), clay minerals (<20 percent), and quartz (<5 percent) in the limited regions observed. Limb observations in the northern hemisphere reveal low-lying dust hazes and detached water-ice clouds at altitudes up to 55 kilometers. At an aerocentric longitude of 224° a major dust storm developed in the Noachis Terra region. The south polar cap retreat was similar to that observed by Viking.

P. R. Christensen and D. L. Anderson, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
S. C. Chase, Santa Barbara Remote Sensing, Goleta, CA 93017, USA.
R. T. Clancy, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
R. N. Clark, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225, USA.
B. J. Conrath, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
H. H. Kieffer, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
R. O. Kuzmin, Vernadsky Institute, Moscow, Russia.
M. C. Malin, Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
J. C. Pearl and M. D. Smith, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA.
T. L. Roush, Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA 94035, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: phil.christensen{at}asu.edu

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)