Special Cirrus Clouds
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These Cirrus clouds (i.e. ice clouds), were photographed by the probe landed on Mars surface in 1997. Red-coloured aerosol particles from the ground which are abundant in the Martian atmosphere serve as condensation nuclei for the ice-particles. Mars1.jpg shows conditions with a high number density of dust particles in the air as a consequence of sandstorms. |
Mars2.jpg was recorded at "clean air"- conditions. The clouds consist of frozen water particles and not of frozen carbon dioxide. This is known from measurements of the optical refraction index of the cloud layers, performed in direction of the sun. |
Heuseler, H., R. Jaumann und G. Neukum, Die Mars Mission, BLV,
1998, |
