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Soil texture and granulometry at the surface of MarsAttention is given to a characterization of the physical behavior of the Martian upper surface in its first few decimeters on the basis of mutual relationships between three parameters: the linear polarization of the reflected light, the visual albedo, and the thermal inertia. Polarimetric scans raked a strip covering two contrasting regions, the dark-hued Mare Erythraeum, and the light-hued Thaumasia. Erythraeum is characterized everywhere by a uniform polarization response, despite the large geomorphological diversity of the surface. A ubiquitous coating or mantling with small dark grains of albedo 12.7 percent, with a radius of 10 to 20 microns, is indicated. Thaumasia exhibits a large variety of soil properties. A typical location with albedo of 16.3 percent has a surface covered with orange grains, probably very dispersed in size, for which the largest grains are 20 to 40 microns.
Document ID
19930046766
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Dollfus, Audouin
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Deschamps, Marc
(Paris Observatoire, Meudon, France)
Zimbelman, James R.
(National Air and Space Museum Washington, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
February 25, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 98
Issue: E2
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
93A30763
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-4574
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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