THERMAL MAPPING OF THE NORTHERN EQUATORIAL AND TEMPERATE LATITUDES OF MARS

Using Viking infrared thermal mapping observations, nightime temperatures have been mapped over the northern hemisphere of Mars. The latitude range from l0oS to 50oN was mapped near midnight local time in the northern spring and temperatures compared to those predicted by a uniform thermal model. As in earlier Viking thermal mapping, three large well-defined regions are significantly cooler than expected. Four less well defined warm areas occur; two extend north beyond this coverage. Although strong local correlations exist in some areas, there is no consistent regional-scale correlation with elevation, albedo, geology, or geomorphology.-from Authors