An ice age recorded in the polar deposits of Mars

I. B. Smith, N. E. Putzig, J. W. Holt, R. J. Phillips
2016 Science  
Layered ice deposits at the poles of Mars record a detailed history of accumulation and erosion related to climate processes. Radar investigations measure these layers and provide evidence for climate changes such as ice advance and retreat. We present a detailed analysis of observational data showing that~87,000 cubic kilometers of ice have accumulated at the poles since the end of the last ice age~370,000 years ago; this volume is equivalent to a global layer of~60 centimeters. The majority
more » ... the material accumulated at the north pole. These results provide both a means to understand the accumulation history of the polar deposits as related to orbital Milankovitch cycles and constraints for better determination of Mars' past and future climates.
doi:10.1126/science.aad6968 pmid:27230372 fatcat:rjnyfu77mneqvccabrq433wnvq