Analyzing Mars' Polar Anomalies: Computer Vision Techniques for Seasonal Changes and Polar Dynamics

This dissertation offers a detailed analysis of seasonal ice cap dynamics and surface anomalies on Mars, utilizing autonomous tracking techniques with polar stereographic images from the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) spanning multiple Mars Years (MY).

This dissertation investigates the recession of the Northern Polar Seasonal Cap (NPSC) from MY 29 to MY 35. Employing Python for automation, this analysis tracks the recession with high temporal fidelity, uncovering intraseasonal variability in the recession rate in addition to significant interannual variability. This variability is coincident with specific events influenced by off-polar winds and Global Dust Storm (GDS) events. The chapter notably examines the divergent effects of GDS events on the size of the NPSC and its recession rates, emphasizing the influence of storm timing and duration.

Additionally, the dissertation explores the recession of the Southern Polar Seasonal Cap (SPSC) from MY 28 to MY 31, characterized by significant discontinuity and variability in recession rates. This study highlights the impacts of the GDS events on SPSC dynamics, demonstrating accelerated sublimation rates and a reduction in cap size after the storm onset.

Finally, the dissertation delves into seasonal phenomena known as Cold and Bright Anomalies (CABAs) and Warm and Dark Anomalies (WADAs) on the North Polar Residual Cap (NPRC). Extensive analysis from MY 29 to MY 35 examines the evolution of temperature and albedo at anomaly sites, revealing a strong correlation with local topography and atmospheric conditions, including katabatic winds and transient eddies.

Collectively, this dissertation provides a nuanced understanding of Martian polar dynamics, offering insights into the interactions between atmospheric phenomena and surface conditions. The adoption of automated tracking technologies significantly enhances the precision and efficiency of these analyses, contributing to our broader understanding of Martian climatology and its seasonal cycles.