North and South Polar Cap Evolution from MY 24 to MY 36 using Daily Maps from MOC and MARCI

Our principle objective for the proposed work is study features related to the seasonal processes of the north and south seasonal ice caps of Mars. Dr. Smith is an expert in interpretation of polar observations and will provide interpretations as well as advice related to wind field at each date and context for the geology of each scene. This involves tracking the retreat of each seasonal cap in the later winter, through spring and early summer, and observing other surface changes that come about during the full year. He will also provide interpretations of atmospheric phenomena related to seasonal ice properties. He will compare radiometric calibration of the reflective properties of the ice with his lab experiments (funded elsewhere) in order to distinguish between various CO2 ice morphologies and mixtures with H2O ice and dust or other non-ice impurities.