Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Features


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Spotlight On Mars - Image

Weaving Colors in the Martian Atmosphere

October 16, 2008

This animated GIF is a combination of two charts. The first chart, labeled 'Atmospheric Temperatures on Mars: 2007 Global Dust Storms,' shows nine horizontal bands (or stripes), stacked vertically. Each band represents a different wavelength of infrared light (sometimes loosely called 'thermal light,' because it includes invisible light radiation that we experience as heat). All of the bands show conspicuous, arch-shaped mounds of orange and yellow corresponding to dust storms. The bands are labeled by sensor array A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, B1, B2, and B3. Each array corresponds to measured wavelengths of 16.5, 15.9, 15.4, 11.8, 22.2, visible infrared, 31.7, 41.7, and 42.1 micrometers, respectively. On the right, a vertical scale shows color gradiations in temperature from black (-273 degrees Celsius), to purple and blue (around -100 degrees Celsius), to light blue and bright blue-green ( around -150 degrees Celsius), to bright green and yellow (around -200 degrees Celsius), and finally to orange and red (-23 degrees Celsius, which is equal to -10 degrees Fahrenheit). At the bottom, a scale shows the length of time -- 4 hours -- the spacecraft collected data while orbiting Mars along with two graphs. One of the graphs is a red line that shows surface latitude from 90 degrees north to 90 degrees south; the other is a bright green line that outlines the Martian topography below the atmosphere being surveyed. The second chart, labeled 'Atmospheric Temperatures on Mars: Equatorial Ice Clouds,' shows nine horizontal bands (or stripes), stacked vertically. Each band represents a different wavelength of infrared light (sometimes loosely called 'thermal light,' because it includes invisible light radiation that we experience as heat). The lower six bands show small, cupola-shaped areas of bright green and light that correspond to ice clouds. The ice clouds stand out in sharp relief next to even colder regions of very dark blue and purple. The bands are labeled by sensor array A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, B1, B2, and B3. Each array correspond to measured wavelengths of 16.5, 15.9, 15.4, 11.8, 22.2, visible infrared, 31.7, 41.7, and 42.1 micrometers, respectively. On the right, a vertical scale shows color gradiations in temperature from black (-273 degrees Celsius), to purple and blue (around -100 degrees Celsius), to light blue and bright blue-green ( around -150 degrees Celsius), to bright green and yellow (around -200 degrees Celsius), and finally to orange and red (-23 degrees Celsius, which is equal to -10 degrees Fahrenheit). At the bottom, a scale shows the length of time -- 4 hours -- the spacecraft collected data while orbiting Mars along with two graphs. One of the graphs is a red line that shows surface latitude from 90 degrees north to 90 degrees south; the other is a bright green line that outlines the Martian topography below the atmosphere being surveyed.

Like Navajo weavers, scientists use whatever tints they want to create a finished product. Here, brilliant hues show light in the Martian atmosphere that is invisible to humans. The different colors of light, called infrared light, indicate temperature, dust, and ice from the surface up to 50 miles high.

In the first picture, in orange and red, Martian storms have kicked up dust. The dust has warmed the atmosphere (stripes A1, A2, A3). Stripe A5 shows the amount and height of dust; A6 shows day and night.

In the second picture, stripe A4 shows clouds of water ice in green and light blue. A dark blue zone indicates extreme winter cold at the south pole (A1). The atmosphere is dust-free (A5).

Like Navajo blankets in the "eyedazzler" tradition, the pictures are captivating. Over time, they tell a story of changes on Mars from season to season and year to year.

Mars Climate Sounder, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech


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