Martian surface
The resulting data help scientists understand the planet's mineral composition and the nature of geological processes operating on the surface.
[4] The classical albedo feature Mare Acidalium (Acidalia Planitia) is another prominent dark area that lies north of the main belt.
Bright areas, excluding the polar caps and transient clouds, include Hellas, Tharsis, and Arabia Terra.
[7][8] Using this technique, scientists have long known that the bright ochre areas probably contain abundant ferric iron (Fe3+) oxides typical of weathered iron-bearing materials (e.g., rust).
Spectra of the redder dark areas are consistent with mafic materials covered with thin alteration coatings.
[9] Thermal inertia measurement is a remote-sensing technique that allows scientists to distinguish fine-grained from coarse-grained areas on the Martian surface.
Thus, high albedo areas have low thermal inertias indicating surfaces that are covered with dust and other fine granular material.
The dark gray, low albedo surfaces have high thermal inertias more typical of consolidated rock.
[13] Data from the Infrared Thermal Mapping (IRTM) experiment on the Viking orbiters identified areas of high thermal inertia throughout the interior of Valles Marineris and the chaotic terrain, suggesting that these areas contain a relatively large number of blocks and boulders.
[14][15] Radar studies provide a wealth of data on elevations, slopes, textures, and material properties of the Martian surface.
[16] Mars is an inviting target for Earth-based radar investigations because of its relative proximity to Earth and its favorable orbital and rotational characteristics that allow good coverage over wide areas of the planet's surface.
The region corresponds to the location of the Medusa Fossae Formation, which consists of thick layers of unconsolidated materials, perhaps volcanic ash or loess.
Results have shown that the polar layered deposits are composed of almost pure ice, with no more than 10% dust by volume[23] and that fretted valleys in Deuteronilus Mensae contain thick glaciers covered by a mantle of rocky debris.
