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Originally published in Science Express on 17 February 2005
Science 11 March 2005:
Vol. 307. no. 5715, pp. 1581 - 1584
DOI: 10.1126/science.1109438
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Reports

Summer Evolution of the North Polar Cap of Mars as Observed by OMEGA/Mars Express

Y. Langevin,1* F. Poulet,1 J.-P. Bibring,1 B. Schmitt,2 S. Douté,2 B. Gondet1

The Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces, et l'Activité (OMEGA) visible-infrared imaging spectrometer extensively observed regions of Mars with latitudes above 70°N in late 2004 (heliocentric longitude from Ls 93° to Ls 127°). The extent of water ice at the surface and the size of ice grains were monitored as a function of time. Bright, small-grained frost, which initially covered a large fraction of the polar cap, waned in favor of large-grained ice. In outlying regions, dominated by large-grained ice, the albedo increased over the period. Evaluating the dust content was model dependent. However, contamination of ice by dust was low.

1 Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, CNRS–Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France.
2 Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble, CNRS–Université Joseph Fourier, 38400 Grenoble, France.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yves.langevin{at}ias.u-psud.fr

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Mars North Polar Deposits: Stratigraphy, Age, and Geodynamical Response.
R. J. Phillips, M. T. Zuber, S. E. Smrekar, M. T. Mellon, J. W. Head, K. L. Tanaka, N. E. Putzig, S. M. Milkovich, B. A. Campbell, J. J. Plaut, et al. (2008)
Science 320, 1182-1185
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Ancient Mars: Wet in Many Places.
D. A. Paige (2005)
Science 307, 1575-1576
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sulfates in the North Polar Region of Mars Detected by OMEGA/Mars Express.
Y. Langevin, F. Poulet, J.-P. Bibring, and B. Gondet (2005)
Science 307, 1584-1586
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mars Surface Diversity as Revealed by the OMEGA/Mars Express Observations.
J.-P. Bibring, Y. Langevin, A. Gendrin, B. Gondet, F. Poulet, M. Berthe, A. Soufflot, R. Arvidson, N. Mangold, J. Mustard, et al. (2005)
Science 307, 1576-1581
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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