Frost patches in the polar regions of Mars

Abstract

This paper presents a global overview of the behaviour of frost patches in the polar regions of Mars, it also introduces
the results of an effort to reveal the basic properties of the crater called Dokka and its surrounding terrain in the north polar
region. The outlined regions and units were analyzed morphologically and thermally. It was found that most of these units
in and around Dokka have frost coverage throughout the whole Martian year. The crater floor of Dokka and the region
above it have different thermal behaviour than the surrounding areas. The results obtained imply that the reason for this
behaviour is the summertime frost coverage. This assumption is also supported by the fact that there is a typical trend in
albedo, showing a second, summertime peak around Ls = 160 in the frost covered regions. Since the temperature at this
time is too high to be CO2 frost while the surface is still too cold and bright to be a barren surface, this ice coverage is
presumed to be water-ice.