Morphological analysis of the Mars polar terrains based on the THEMIS data

We present the latest results from our analysis of the Mars polar regions based on the data from the THermal EMission Imaging System (THEMIS) on board the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. THEMIS obtains data in the infrared (IR, 10 spectral filters between 6.6 and 15.0 micrometers) and visible (VIS, 5 spectral filters between 420 and 870 nanometers) wavelengths. The resolution of the THEMIS IR images is 100m/pixel and the resolution of THEMIS VIS images is 18m/pixel. Visible images will provide a link between THEMIS IR and Mars Optical Camera (MOC) narrow angle images. THEMIS started acquiring data from Ls=329. High quality thermal and IR images of the south residual ice cap were obtained during late southern fall period. THEMIS will allow an extensive coverage of both polar regions by the end of the prime mission. In this presentation we discuss the following topics: 1. Sensitivity of THEMIS instrument in the IR wavelengths for low temperature environments in the polar regions of Mars. 2. Initial results from morphological analysis of the THEMIS IR and VIS data from the polar regions and especially polar layered terrains. We are interested in observations of the layers and troughs and correlations with the MOC narrow angle images for the same region and season. 3. Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topography will be used to analyze THEMIS IR data on the slopes of the residual ice caps and inside troughs. High-precision registration of THEMIS IR images to MOLA DEMs will allow us to analyze temperature dependencies of ice on the slopes.