Experimental investigation of insolation-driven dust ejection from Mars’ CO2 ice caps

• DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2016.09.039
• Publication Date: 2016-09-30T13:52:23Z
• Authors: E. Kaufmann; A. Hagermann
• Keywords: Opacity; Atmosphere of Mars

Mars’ polar caps are – depending on hemisphere and season - partially or totally covered with CO2 ice. Icy surfaces such as the of Mars behave differently from rock soil when they irradiated by solar light. The latter absorb reflect incoming radiation within a thin layer beneath surface. In contrast, ices transparent in visible spectral range opaque infrared. Due to this fact, can penetrate certain depth raise temperature ice dust below This may play an important role energy balance icy system, already noted previous investigations. We investigated profiles inside samples including under Martian conditions. have been able trigger eruptions, but also demonstrated that these require very narrow ambient pressure. discuss possible implications for understanding phenomena arachneiform patterns fan shaped deposits observed southern region.