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THE NORTH POLAR HOOD DURING NORTHERN AUTUMN

Abstract

Images of the North Polar Hood (NPH), a large area of cloud cover over the North Polar Region, was examined. Several blue filter images, recorded in 2003, were examined using the software package WinJUPOS. The southern boundary of the NPH was measured at different local Mars times. Local noon is defined as the longitude on Mars when the Sun is at the local meridian. During late autumn (240° < Ls < 260°), the NPH extended down to a mean latitude of 43° N. The mean latitude was farther north (45° N) at 3 pm local time but was farther south (37° N) at 9 am local time. It is concluded that the NPH extends to latitudes farther south during the early morning hours but retreats during the day. Measurements earlier in the autumn are consistent with this conclusion. On August 29 and September 12, southward point bulges in the North Polar Hood were imaged. These bulges may be cold fronts. The writer is grateful for a Faculty Development Grant which enabled him to use the WinJUPOS software package

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