1. White Paper Timothy N. Titus U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center NOTE ADDED BY JPL WEBMASTER: This document was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center. The content has not been approved or adopted by, NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology. This document is being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology.

2. The Polar Regions: Where the atmosphere becomes the surface. & the surface becomes the atmosphere.

3. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 3 Acknowledgements  Thomas Prettyman - PSI  Tim Michaels - SwRI  Josh Bandfield – U. of Wash.  Sylvain Piqueux – Ariz. State U.  Robert Haberle – NASA ARC  Ralph Lorenz – APL  Francois Forget - IPSL  Yves Langevin - Université Paris-Sud

4. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 4 Mars Polar Energy Balance Workshop  36 Registered Attendees  United States  France  Russia  Germany  Switzerland  Spacecraft Instrument Teams  Atmospheric Modelers GCM Mesoscale  Thermal Inertia  Laboratory Experimentalists  Spectroscopists

5. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 5 Mars Polar Energy Balance Workshop  HiRISE  CRISM  CTX  Marci  OMEGA  THEMIS  Neutron Spectrometer  TES  MOLA  MOC

6. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 6 Why should you care?  25-30% of the Mars Atmosphere is cycled through the polar caps annually  Understanding the current climate is a precursor to understanding Mars past climates.  Most dynamically Active Place today CO 2 Jets & the carving of “spiders.”CO 2 Jets & the carving of “spiders.” CO 2 Ice Snow StormsCO 2 Ice Snow Storms

7. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 7 Priorities for the Next Decade (The Teenage Years of the 21 st Century)  Mars Polar Fundamental Research & Data Analysis Program Mars Polar Research is inter-disciplinary.Mars Polar Research is inter-disciplinary. Mars Fundamental ResearchMars Fundamental Research Mars Data AnalysisMars Data Analysis  CO 2 Ice Laboratory Experiments  What are the densities of the seasonal and residual CO 2 ices as a function of space & time?  Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere.  Measurements of the mixture ratios of the Non- condensable Gas Enhancement in the polar region.

8. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 8 Mars Polar Fundamental Research & Data Analysis Program(s)  Mars Polar Fundamental Research CO 2 Ice Laboratory ExperimentsCO 2 Ice Laboratory Experiments  Spectral Properties of mixtures under Mars conditions  Physical Properties of mixtures under Mars conditions  Mars Data Analysis More allocated funds to analyze the data we have.More allocated funds to analyze the data we have. More interdisciplinary cross-platform researchMore interdisciplinary cross-platform research

9. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 9 What are the densities of the seasonal and residual CO 2 ices as a function of space & time?  Height evolution of the seasonal caps MOLA on SteroidsMOLA on Steroids Interferometric Synthetic Aperture RadarInterferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar  Higher spatial resolution of the Column Density of Seasonal CO 2. Collimated Thermal Neutron DetectorCollimated Thermal Neutron Detector

10. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 10 Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere. Pressure is the heartbeat of the Climate

11. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 11 Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere.  Long-term Stability of the SPRC

12. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 12 Long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere.  Long-term Stability of the SPRC  Pressure measurements accurate to a few Pascal per Mars decade.  Surface Pressure E.g. RTG Polar Lander.E.g. RTG Polar Lander. Network landers.Network landers.  Orbital Measurements  Telescopic Measurements

13. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 13 Measurements of the mixture ratios of the Non-condensable Gas Enhancement in the polar region.  Can increases in the mixing ratio of non-condensable gasses account for observed super-saturation of the atmosphere in the polar night?  What are the implications for CO 2 cloud and snow formation?

14. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 14 Mars Polar Energy Balance & CO 2 Cycle Priorities  Establish a Mars Polar Fundamental Research & Data Analysis Program Mars Fundamental ResearchMars Fundamental Research Mars Data AnalysisMars Data Analysis  CO 2 Ice experiments under Mars conditions  Determine the densities of the seasonal and residual CO 2 ices as a function of space & time.  Establish long-term monitoring of the mass of the atmosphere.  Measure the mixture ratios of the Non- condensable Gas Enhancement in the polar region as a function of space & time.

15. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 15 Backup Slides

16. 29 July 2009 MEPAG Providence, RI 16 Mars Polar Discovery Highlights  TES discovered that jets of dusty gas produce dark markings on the south polar cap.  TES discovered why the "Mountains of Mitchel" remain bright well into local spring.  THEMIS solves Martian polar riddle of Jets.  THEMIS confirms water ice at Mars polar cap