Seasonal Evolution of the Northern Martian Polar Cap: Comparisons Between MEX/OMEGA, TES (MGS) Observations and LMD GCM Predictions

MEX/OMEGA infrared and visible spectrometer onboard Mars Express allows a detailed, improved and quantitative study of martian polar ices. The seasonal evolution of the martian northern permanent cap as well as associated physical processes is a clue to understand its interaction within the water cycle and its long term evolution. Previous works have shown the great seasonal variability of the cap including local changes in albedo, return of water ice in spring, accumulation of bright deposits at the cap center, correlation between polar cap surface and water vapor... (Bass and Paige, Icarus, 2000). Here, we will report comparisons between the TES spectrometer observations (Kieffer and Titus, Icarus, 2001) and recent MEX/OMEGA observations. Detailed comparisons with the predictions of the 3D-LMD GCM climate model will be also made to improve the meteorological and physical understanding of these processes