EFFECTS OF NONIDEAL SURFACES ON THE DERIVED THERMAL-PROPERTIES OF MARS

The thermal inertia of the surface of Mars varies spatially by a factor of 8. This is attributable to changes in the average particle size of the fine material, the surface elevation, the atmospheric opacity due to dust, and the fraction of the surface covered by rocks and fine material. The effects of these non-ideal properties on the surface temperatures and derived thermal inertias are modeled, along with the effects of slopes, CO2 condensed onto the surface, and layering of fine material upon solid rock. -from Author