View of part of the northern polar ice cap
View of part of the northern polar ice cap
Characteristic features of the north polar cap include dark fissures and valleys that spiral outward from the centre of the polar region in a counterclockwise direction. Stratification is visible on the steep slopes, reminiscent of tree rings. This attests to seasonal changes in ice deposits and dust cover due to Martian storms. By examining these layer profiles, scientists hope to gain insights into the development of the Martian climate. The permanent water ice cover at the north pole is over two kilometres thick in places, while the seasonal carbon dioxide ice layers are only a few metres thick. Cloud formations can be seen on the up to two-kilometre-high slopes of some of the valleys; these are local dust storms that are similar to fall winds.
