Stratigraphy of the North Polar Deposits NASA/JPL/University of
Arizona  Stratigraphy of the North Polar Deposits
PSP_010198_2645  Science Theme: Polar Geology   800  1024  
1152  1280   1440  1600   1920  2048   This image shows an
example of layers in the Martian north polar deposits. These
deposits, part of the Planum Boreum dome, are composed mainly of
water ice and small amounts of dust.  The layers within these
deposits are exposed by shallowly-sloping troughs that cut into
them. This image is particularly interesting because it crosses
complicated trough geometry, making the layers appear curved and
exposing multiple stratigraphic levels.  Note that layers of
different thicknesses are visible. Layer thickness is directly
related to the accumulation rate of the layer; a higher
accumulation rate will lead to a thicker layer. However, a
myriad of factors work together to influence accumulation rate,
such as the amount of sunlight reaching the surface and the
amount of water in the contemporaneous atmosphe