Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes

Details Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes

May 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994georl..21..785b&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 21, no. 9, p. 785-788

Physics

11

Dust, Elevation, Mars (Planet), Mars Atmosphere, Mars Surface Samples, Mars Volcanoes, Planetary Temperature, Size (Dimensions), Albedo, Atmospheric Pressure, Atmospheric Radiation, Inertia

Scientific paper

One persistent difficulty associated with the interpretation of Martian thermal inertia and the derivation of particle size from it has been the degree to which atmospheric properties affect both the energy balance at the surface and the gas conductivity. Because both these factors vary with atmospheric pressure, derivation of thermal inertias and particle sizes must incorporate a correction for elevation. Here, by utilizing currently available thermal models and laboratory data, fine component thermal inertia has been combined with topography to compute particle size corrected for these elevation-dependent effects. The corrected particle sizes at high elevations are as much as 2 orders of magnitude larger than the uncorrected values, with the Tharsis shield volcanoes generally having inferred sizes larger than dust, in contrast to previous interpretations of a thick dust cover. This large effective particle size may be a manifestation of the average conductivity produced by a mixture of dust and intervening bedrock outcrops smaller in size than those computed by Christensen (1986b). In addition, the time-variable albedo in the upper regions of these volcanoes argues against the presence of large dust deposits.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-886405