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Published May 11, 1973 | public
Journal Article

Periodic Insolation Variations on Mars

Abstract

Previously unrecognized insolation variations on Mars are a consequence of periodic variations in eccentricity, first established by the theory of Brouwer and Van Woerkom (1950). Such annual insolation variations, characterized by both 95,000-year and 2,000,000-year periodicities, may actually be recorded in newly discovered layered deposits in the polar regions of Mars. An additional north-south variation in seasonal insolation, but not average annual insolation, exists with 51,000-year and 2,000,000-year periodicities.

Additional Information

© 1973 American Association for the Advancement of Science. 24 November 1972; revised 14 February 1973. L. A. Soderblom of the U.S. Geological Survey and California Institute of Technology originally called our attention to the Brouwer and Clemence reference to Mars' eccentricity variations, the essential starting point for this investigation. P. Goldreich of California Institute of Technology provided helpful advice. This work was partly supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Contribution No. 2235, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023