Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars observations of northern Martian latitudes in summer

[1] This paper brings together initial results obtained of the high northern latitudes in Mars years 28 and 29, between October 2006 and October 2008. These measurements confirm many previous models and shed new light on the nature of polar surface materials, particularly in intermediate-albedo units of the polar layered deposits, many of which are found to be ice-rich. We identify hydrated non ice materials present in many lowalbedo troughs, as well as in the circumpolar erg that was previously associated with gypsum. We identify icy outlier deposits that may be related to subsurface thermophysical properties and permafrost. New observations of the gypsum-rich dune material constrain models for its formation and distribution. Intrinsic properties of ice content and grain size are found to be independent of the albedo of fine layered units and may provide a novel method for stratigraphic identification and correlation.