EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Thomas et al. 1999
Thomas, N., Markiewicz, W.J., Sablotny, R.M., Wuttke, M.W., Keller, H.U., Johnson, J.R., Reid, R.J. and Smith, P.H. (1999). The color of the Martian sky and its influence on the illumination of the Martian surface. Journal of Geophysical Research 104: doi: 10.1029/98JE02556. issn: 0148-0227.

The dust in the atmosphere above the Mars Pathfinder landing site produced a bright, red sky that increases in redness toward the horizon at midday. There is also evidence for an absorption band in the scattered light from the sky at 860 nm. A model of the sky brightness has been developed <Markiewicz et al., this issue> and tested against Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) observations of calibration targets on the lander. The resulting model has been used to quantify the total diffuse flux onto a surface parallel to the local level for several solar elevation angles and optical depths. The model shows that the diffuse illumination in shadowed areas is strongly reddened while areas illuminated directly by the Sun (and the blue forward scattering peak) see a more solar-type spectrum, in agreement with Viking and IMP observations. Quantitative corrections for the reddening in shadowed areas are demonstrated. It is shown quantitatively that the unusual appearance of the rock Yogi (the east face of which appeared relatively blue in images taken during the morning but relatively red during the afternoon) can be explained purely by the changing illumination geometry. We conclude that any spectrophotometric analysis of surfaces on Mars must take into account the diffuse flux. Specifically, the reflectances of surfaces viewed under different illumination geometries cannot be investigated for spectral diversity unless a correction has been applied which removes the influence of the reddened diffuse flux. Âż 1999 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Solar System Objects, Mars, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Dust, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Surface materials and properties, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Atmospheres—structure and dynamics
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit