Thermal mapping of the northern equatorial and temperate latitudes of Mars

Abstract

Using Viking infrared thermal mapping observations, nighttime temperatures have been mapped over the northern hemisphere of Mars. The latitude range from 10°S to 50°N was mapped near midnight local time in the northern spring and temperatures compared to those predicted by a uniform thermal model. As in earlier Viking thermal mapping, three large well‐defined regions are significantly cooler than expected. Four less well defined warm areas occur; two extend north beyond this coverage. Large variations of the temperature residual, −45 to +19 K, are related primarily to the thermal inertia of the surface. Although strong local correlations exist in some areas, there is no consistent regional‐scale correlation with elevation, albedo, geology, or geomorphology. Where studied in detail, the boundaries of the cool regions and some local thermal structures are found to be related to the occurrence of patches of dark material and streaks downwind of craters. High‐resolution imaging indicates that a mantling layer exists over at least one of the cool regions. A general hypothesis for the transport of loose material on the Martian surface invokes the stability of the smooth, fine grained surfaces to account for the bimodal thermal behavior observed. This hypothesis and thermal mapping suggest that large areas of the Martian surface are very different from those observed by the Viking landers.