{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53045"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53045","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Implications of Martian polar insolation levels on the climatic cycling of volatiles","abstract":"Solar insolation at the poles is the driving force in Mars' seasonal climatic cycle. Mars' obliquity has varied greatly in the geologically recent past and this would have had a profound effect on the past climate. Previous studies have always assumed a spherical planet when calculating insolation. This study uses a geodetic elevation model (GEM) of the elevation data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, to provide accurate insolation calculations. This method takes into account the long and shortwavelength topography, the planetary curvature, and the planetary flattening. This paper outlines the design and implementation of a GEM, and presents insolation calculations for Mar's north polar cap for obliquities of 150, 250 and 450. This study found that the elevation of the northern ice cap above the surroundings results in the ice cap having more days of sunlight than previously thought.","abstract_html":"Solar insolation at the poles is the driving force in Mars' seasonal climatic cycle. Mars' obliquity has varied greatly in the geologically recent past and this would have had a profound effect on the past climate. Previous studies have always assumed a spherical planet when calculating insolation. This study uses a geodetic elevation model (GEM) of the elevation data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, to provide accurate insolation calculations. This method takes into account the long and shortwavelength topography, the planetary curvature, and the planetary flattening. This paper outlines the design and implementation of a GEM, and presents insolation calculations for Mar's north polar cap for obliquities of 150, 250 and 450. This study found that the elevation of the northern ice cap above the surroundings results in the ice cap having more days of sunlight than previously thought.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Arrell, Russell, 1975-"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Maria Zuber."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2000,"date_issued":"2000","date_published":"2000","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:41Z","subjects":["Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. 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They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53045"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2000.","Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-36)."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Solar insolation at the poles is the driving force in Mars' seasonal climatic cycle. Mars' obliquity has varied greatly in the geologically recent past and this would have had a profound effect on the past climate. Previous studies have always assumed a spherical planet when calculating insolation. This study uses a geodetic elevation model (GEM) of the elevation data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, to provide accurate insolation calculations. This method takes into account the long and shortwavelength topography, the planetary curvature, and the planetary flattening. This paper outlines the design and implementation of a GEM, and presents insolation calculations for Mar's north polar cap for obliquities of 150, 250 and 450. This study found that the elevation of the northern ice cap above the surroundings results in the ice cap having more days of sunlight than previously thought."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Implications of Martian polar insolation levels on the climatic cycling of volatiles"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Maria Zuber."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences."],"dc:creator":["Arrell, Russell, 1975-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2010-03-25T14:52:55Z"],"dc:date.available":["2010-03-25T14:52:55Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2000"],"dc:description":["Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2000.","Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-36)."],"dc:description.abstract":["Solar insolation at the poles is the driving force in Mars' seasonal climatic cycle. Mars' obliquity has varied greatly in the geologically recent past and this would have had a profound effect on the past climate. Previous studies have always assumed a spherical planet when calculating insolation. This study uses a geodetic elevation model (GEM) of the elevation data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, to provide accurate insolation calculations. This method takes into account the long and shortwavelength topography, the planetary curvature, and the planetary flattening. This paper outlines the design and implementation of a GEM, and presents insolation calculations for Mar's north polar cap for obliquities of 150, 250 and 450. This study found that the elevation of the northern ice cap above the surroundings results in the ice cap having more days of sunlight than previously thought."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53045"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences."],"dc:title":["Implications of Martian polar insolation levels on the climatic cycling of volatiles"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:41Z"}