Flags - Maps

Oct. 10, 1984 - The South Polar Regions of Earth and Mars: Like the Earth, Mars has polar caps that wax and wane with seasons. Because of the much lower temperatures on Mars and the Composition of its atmosphere (primarily Carbon Dioxide), most of its polar snow is actually a thin coating of Carbon dioxide frost. However, spacecraft measurements have determined that the small residual ice cap that remains during the summer seasons in the northern hemisphere is actually made up of water ice. The same is probably true of the southern hemisphere ice cap. This illustration compares the south polar regions of Mars and the Earth at the same scale. In each case the ice caps are shown at approximately their minimum extent

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Actually Approximately Carbon Coating Compares Composition Determined Dioxide Extent Frost Hemisphere However Measurements Minimum Regions Residual Spacecraft Temperatures Wane

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY