Near-IR Spectral Mapping of Mars: Temperatures, Aerosols and CO2 Ice

David Glenar

The surface and lower atmosphere of Mars are being studied spectroscopically as part of a multi-year observing program using the SpeX grating spectrometer at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, Mauna Kea, Hawaii. A novel aspect of the observing is a drift-scan technique that produces 3-axis image cubes (x-y- wavelength) of an entire Mars hemisphere at near infrared wavelengths and moderately high spectral resolving power. This talk summarizes two investigations underway using the SpeX data archive that has so-far been collected: (1) A study of the physical properties of south polar CO2 ice that control the seasonal sublimation of the polar cap, and (2) An atmospheric CO2 thermometer which enables temperature measurements within the lower atmosphere.