Planetary Volatiles: Snow and Ice Active
By Astrogeology Science Center
October 3, 2022
Planetary Volatiles
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volatiles. Volatiles include substances that have a high vapor pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere. We study the longevity, locations and other characteristics of volatiles. More specifically:
H2O ice, snow and frost are volatiles on the Earth. We study the persistence of perennial snowfields in Colorado and Mongolia.
Mars has snow, frost and ice of CO2 and H2O. We study Martian H2O and CO2 ice and frost, as well as polar regions in general.
Our moon has H2O ice in shadowed areas. We study lunar H2O ice.
Other moons such as Titan also have volatiles, which include liquid methane and ethane.
Filter Total Items: 17
HiRISE observations of new impact craters exposing Martian ground ice
Twenty small new impact craters or clusters have been observed to excavate bright material inferred to be ice at mid and high latitudes on Mars. In the northern hemisphere, the craters are widely distributed geographically and occur at latitudes as low as 39°N. Stability modeling suggests that this ice distribution requires a long-term average atmospheric water vapor content around 25 precipitable
Authors
Colin M. Dundas, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwen, Michael T. Mellon, Megan R. Kennedy, Ingrid J. Daubar, Lee Saper
Seasonally active frost-dust avalanches on a north polar scarp of Mars captured by HiRISE
North-polar temporal monitoring by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) orbiting Mars has discovered new, dramatic examples that Mars1 CO2-dominated seasonal volatile cycle is not limited to quiet deposition and sublimation of frost. In early northern martian spring, 2008, HiRISE captured several cases of CO2 frost and dust cascading down a steep, polar scarp in discrete clouds.
Authors
Patrick S. Russell, Nicolas Thomas, Shane Byrne, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Kathryn E. Fishbaugh, Nathan Bridges, Chris Okubo, Moses P. Milazzo, Ingrid J. Daubar, Candice J. Hansen, Alfred S. McEwen
CO2 jets formed by sublimation beneath translucent slab ice in Mars' seasonal south polar ice cap
The martian polar caps are among the most dynamic regions on Mars, growing substantially in winter as a significant fraction of the atmosphere freezes out in the form of CO2 ice. Unusual dark spots, fans and blotches form as the south-polar seasonal CO2 ice cap retreats during spring and summer. Small radial channel networks are often associated with the location of spots once the ice disappears.
Authors
Hugh H. Kieffer, Phillip R. Christensen, Timothy N. Titus
Mars: Water, water everywhere
Mars is a very watery planet, but all the water seems to be frozen. Divining the amount and distribution of this water, past and present, is essential for understanding martian climates, and more.
Authors
Timothy N. Titus
Exposed water ice discovered near the south pole of Mars
The Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) has discovered water ice exposed near the edge of Mars' southern perennial polar cap. The surface H2O ice was first observed by THEMIS as a region that was cooler than expected for dry soil at that latitude during the summer season. Diurnal and seasonal temperature trends derived from Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer obser
Authors
Timothy N. Titus, Hugh H. Kieffer, Phillip R. Christensen
- Overview
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volatiles. Volatiles include substances that have a high vapor pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere. We study the longevity, locations and other characteristics of volatiles. More specifically:
H2O ice, snow and frost are volatiles on the Earth. We study the persistence of perennial snowfields in Colorado and Mongolia.
Mars has snow, frost and ice of CO2 and H2O. We study Martian H2O and CO2 ice and frost, as well as polar regions in general.
Our moon has H2O ice in shadowed areas. We study lunar H2O ice.
Other moons such as Titan also have volatiles, which include liquid methane and ethane.
- Data
No Result Found
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 17
HiRISE observations of new impact craters exposing Martian ground ice
Twenty small new impact craters or clusters have been observed to excavate bright material inferred to be ice at mid and high latitudes on Mars. In the northern hemisphere, the craters are widely distributed geographically and occur at latitudes as low as 39°N. Stability modeling suggests that this ice distribution requires a long-term average atmospheric water vapor content around 25 precipitableAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwen, Michael T. Mellon, Megan R. Kennedy, Ingrid J. Daubar, Lee SaperSeasonally active frost-dust avalanches on a north polar scarp of Mars captured by HiRISE
North-polar temporal monitoring by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) orbiting Mars has discovered new, dramatic examples that Mars1 CO2-dominated seasonal volatile cycle is not limited to quiet deposition and sublimation of frost. In early northern martian spring, 2008, HiRISE captured several cases of CO2 frost and dust cascading down a steep, polar scarp in discrete clouds.AuthorsPatrick S. Russell, Nicolas Thomas, Shane Byrne, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Kathryn E. Fishbaugh, Nathan Bridges, Chris Okubo, Moses P. Milazzo, Ingrid J. Daubar, Candice J. Hansen, Alfred S. McEwenCO2 jets formed by sublimation beneath translucent slab ice in Mars' seasonal south polar ice cap
The martian polar caps are among the most dynamic regions on Mars, growing substantially in winter as a significant fraction of the atmosphere freezes out in the form of CO2 ice. Unusual dark spots, fans and blotches form as the south-polar seasonal CO2 ice cap retreats during spring and summer. Small radial channel networks are often associated with the location of spots once the ice disappears.AuthorsHugh H. Kieffer, Phillip R. Christensen, Timothy N. TitusMars: Water, water everywhere
Mars is a very watery planet, but all the water seems to be frozen. Divining the amount and distribution of this water, past and present, is essential for understanding martian climates, and more.AuthorsTimothy N. TitusExposed water ice discovered near the south pole of Mars
The Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) has discovered water ice exposed near the edge of Mars' southern perennial polar cap. The surface H2O ice was first observed by THEMIS as a region that was cooler than expected for dry soil at that latitude during the summer season. Diurnal and seasonal temperature trends derived from Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer obserAuthorsTimothy N. Titus, Hugh H. Kieffer, Phillip R. Christensen