Spatio‐Temporal Level Variations of the Martian Seasonal South Polar Cap From Co‐Registration of MOLA Profiles

Abstract

The seasonal deposition and sublimation of CO2 represents a major element in the Martian volatile cycle. Here, co‐registration strategies are applied to Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter profiles to obtain spatio‐temporal variations in snow/ice level of the Seasonal South Polar Cap (SSPC), in grid elements of 0.5° in latitude from 60° to 87°S and 10° in longitude. The maximum snow/ice level in the range of 2–2.5 m is observed over the Residual South Polar Cap. Peak level at the Residual South Polar Cap in Martian Year 25 (MY25) are found to be typically ∼0.5 m higher than those in MY24. The total volume is estimated to peak at approximately 9.4 × 1012 m3. In addition, a map of average bulk density of the SSPC during its recession is derived. It implies much more snowfall‐like precipitation at the Residual South Polar Cap and its surroundings than elsewhere on Mars.

Plain Language Summary: Each Martian year, up to one third of the atmosphere's CO2 is transported from pole to pole, being deposited and sublimated depending on the season. Accurate measurements of snow level and volume variations of the resulting seasonal polar caps can serve as crucial constraints on the Martian volatile cycles. In this study, we apply new approaches of analyzing the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter profiles, which lead to spatially and temporally resolved measurements of snow/ice level of the Seasonal South Polar Cap (SSPC). Based on that, the maximum snow level, interannual maximum level change from Martian Year 24 (MY24) to MY25, and how the volume of the SSPC changes with time are measured. We also estimate the bulk density of the snow/ice deposition during southern winter. It is inferred that there is much more snowfall at the Residual South Polar Cap and its surroundings than elsewhere on the planet.

Key Points:

Using co‐registration of Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter profiles, spatio‐temporal level variations of the seasonal snow/ice deposits at the Martian south pole are obtained.

Maximum level can be up to 2.5 m; Peak level increased by ∼0.5 m at the Residual South Polar Cap from Martian Year 24 (MY24) to MY25.

Obtained bulk density map of the seasonal deposits implies that snowfall concentrates at the Residual South Polar Cap and its surroundings.