C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates Geography 441/541 S/15 Dr. Christine M. Rodrigue

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates Climate classification – On Earth, Köppen and Thornthwaite schemes: –Temperatures measured seasonally, diurnally –Humidity/evapotranspiration –Precipitation amounts, types, seasonality – On Mars... –Must depend more on temperatures –Pressure relevant, winds, dustiness –Water vapor –Frost and snow –Northern and southern hemisphere difference (eccentricity and elevation)

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates Hargitai classification – North polar (“frigid”) –To Arctic Circle (64.9°) –Dominated by ice cap/seasonal ice cap – Northern transitional (“temperate”) –To Tropic of Pisces (25.1°) – Equatorial (“tropical”) – Southern transitional (“temperate”) –From Tropic of Virgo (-25.1°) to Antarctic Circle (-64.9°) – South polar (“frigid”)

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates Hargitai classification – Southern Hemisphere vs. Northern Hemisphere –Summer “hotter” because it coïncides with perihelion –More CO 2 sublimation → higher air pressure –Windier, dustier, more dust devils, major dust storms start –Winter even colder because it coïncides with aphelion –Greater deposition of CO 2, larger seasonal ice cap –To Tropic of Pisces (25.1°)

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates Hargitai classification – Smaller scale climate regionalization –Equatorial zone highland climates –Tharsis, Elysium –Even colder, can be cloudier –Low albedo equatorial zone climates –Syrtis Major –Higher thermal inertia, less extreme temperature swings, winds –Low elevation equatorial zones –Valles Marineris –Higher pressure, possibly above triple point of water, windy –Low elevation transitional zones –Hellas and Argyre planitiae –Higher pressure, maybe above triple point, windier

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Climates

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars' Climates Hargitai's scheme: – Kind of Köppen-inspired (but, maddeningly, reversed letter sequence) – A=permanent ice cap; B=covered by seasonal ice cap; C=transitional/temperate; D=tropical; E=low albedo tropical; F=subpolar lowland basins; G=tropical lowland basins; H=subtropical mountains

C.M. Rodrigue, 2015 Geography, CSULB Mars: Terraforming