A determination of albedos and surface temperatures on Mars from ground-based infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Surface temperatures and albedos of the Martian disk have been measured from ground-based infrared spectroscopy, between September and December 1988. As a result, the measured surface temperatures seem to be higher than the Viking temperatures measured in 1977, and closer to the theoretical temperatures calculated from the Viking 1976 data (primary mission). This suggests that the Martian dust activity in 1988, at the time of opposition, was probably less intense than in 1977.