Instrumentation
Thermal Emission Imaging System - Infrared Band (THEMIS IR)
THEMIS IR images were chosen because they provided planet-wide coverage of Mars at a resolution (100 m/pixel) capable of revealing many dune features. Due to small particle size, dunes have a lower thermal inertia than surrounding rock, accompanied by a large diurnal temperature change. The dunes are relatively warm in the daytime images, appearing light in tone, making them easy to detect. In nighttime images the pattern reverses with the relatively cool dunes appearing dark.
More information on THEMIS IR and Vis can be found on the ASU THEMIS page.
Thermal Emission Imaging System - Visible Band (THEMIS Vis)
The higher resolution THEMIS VIS images are used, when available, to verify that the features are dunes and to classify the dune types.
More information on THEMIS Vis and IR can be found on the ASU THEMIS page.
Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
Because of the higher spatial resolution, MOC images are used to identify and analyze slip faces and dune types.
More information on MOC and Malin Space Science Systems can be found on the Malin website.
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
HiRISE images have changed a number of previously held ideas about aeolian processes on Mars. Thanks to HiRISE, we now know that winds on Mars are more powerful than previously thought. HiRISE measurements have also indicated that wind strength various seasonally.
More information about HiRISE's contributions to understanding Mars dunes can be found here. More information on the instrument can be found by clicking here.
Data
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
The THEMIS home page has a Researchers section with has information pertinant to the instrument, data, analysis, plublications, and additional documents. This can be found on this page. If you are just interested in the data, you can go straight to the THEMIS web page.Mars Orbital Camera (MOC)
There are two different sources for MOC data. Data can be found at the Malin Space Science Systems MOC Gallery or at a data site maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey.
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
There are also two different places to find HiRISE data. The Lunar and Plantary Lab at the University of Arizona has HiRISE data available according to release. This can be found by clicking here. An easier to use graphical browser is available with the HiRISE Online Image Viewer located here.
Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM)
Images are available in this gallery.
Software
Disclaimer: The Mars-Dunes.org consortium does not wish to endorse or promote any of the software packages listed here. These links are being listed for informational purposes only. Some of the packages here require purchase and registration of a lisence, but some do not. Where possible, the descriptions specify if use of the product is free.
Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers (ISIS)
ISIS is a heavy weight image processing suite. It can be used to manipulate images from many spacecraft missions to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and many other solar system bodies. Its most common function is to project unregistered data into geometry registed formats for further processing. Please see the ISIS website for more information.
ISIS is a US Geological Survey product, and is thus available for use for free. You must how ever have a POSIX compliant operating system to run ISIS.
ARC Software
ArcGIS -Environmental Systems Research Incorporated (ESRI) GIS software is an integrated collection of GIS software products that create, edit, import, map, query, analyze and publish geographic information.
ArcReader is a free mapping application that allows users to view, explore and print maps. It can be delivered with your data for CD-ROM or DVD-based publishing of geographic data. This is one way we are making the Mars Global Digital Dune Database, (MGD3) available.
JMARS
JMARS is a Java based software package that can be used to view imagery from many different missions to Mars. This package is an excellent choice if you would like to ”browse“ Mars imagery for any given region of interest.
JMARS is a freely available package developed by the Mars Spaceflight Facility at Arizona State University. User registration is however required.
