Spectrographic Detection of Topographic Features on Mars

Abstract

Observations of the martian carbon dioxide band at 1.05 microns made with a three-channel multislit spectrophotometer indicate gross height variations in the vicinity of Syrtis Major and surrounding desert regions. Syrtis Major appears to be very high with essentially no detectable carbon dioxide above it. The data appear to confirm local trends and, in magnitude at least, the large variations of height found in earlier radar observations. A one-to-one correlation of height with albedo is not evident in the results. Elevated areas are found in both desert and dark regions. In several regions dark areas are associated with relatively steep slopes.