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3\10 Third Int'l Conf On Mars Polar Science & Exploration
Part 1 of 2

                  The Third International Conference 
                On Mars Polar Science and Exploration

                           October 13-17, 2003
                            Alberta, Canada

                               SPONSORS
                    Lunar and Planetary Institute
            National Aeronautics and Space Administration
                        Canadian Space Agency
                     Geological Survey of Canada
                 International Glaciological Society

                              CONVENERS
           Stephen Clifford, Lunar and Planetary Institute
            Peter Doran, University of Illinois at Chicago
              David Fisher, Geological Survey of Canada
               Christopher Herd, University of Alberta

                     SCIENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
                         Terrestrial Members
                         -------------------
Walter Ammann, Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
             Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, University of Copenhagen
               Sigfus Johnsen, University of Copenhagen
                Shawn Marshall, University of Calgary
                   John Nye, University of Bristol
                   Wayne Pollard, McGill University
              Todd Sowers, Pennsylvania State University
             Lonnie Thompson, Byrd Polar Research Center
 Thorsteinn Thorsteinsson, National Energy Authority and University of
                               Iceland
              Eske Willerslev, University of Copenhagen

                          Planetary Members
                          -----------------
                William Boynton, University of Arizona
            Mike Carr, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park
               Frank Carsey, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
        William Durham, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
                Jack Farmer, Arizona State University
            James Garvin, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
              Rejean Grard, European Space Agency/ESTEC
              Robert Haberle, NASA Ames Research Center
          Ken Herkenhoff, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff
           Hugh Kieffer, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff
                Pascal Lee, NASA Ames Research Center
           Daniel McCleese, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
             Christopher McKay, NASA Ames Research Center
            Jeffrey Plaut, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
                James Rice Jr., University of Arizona
             David Smith, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center
            Ken Tanaka, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff
                   Peter Thomas, Cornell University
          Maria Zuber, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The Third International Conference on Mars Polar Science and
Exploration is the latest in a continuing series of meetings that are 
intended to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas between 
planetary and terrestrial scientists interested in Mars polar and 
climate research. In recognition of the broad scope, interdisciplinary 
nature, and strong international interest in this topic, the 
participation of any interested scientist with relevant theoretical, 
experimental, or polar field experience is strongly encouraged.

The purpose of the conference is to assess the current state of Mars 
polar and climate research; discuss what might be learned from 
investigations of terrestrial analogs and the data returned from 
upcoming missions; and identify the potential science objectives, 
platform options, and instrument suites for robotic missions to the 
martian poles within the next decade. This meeting is intended to 
advance such missions and to serve as an important resource for those 
scientists wishing to develop instruments, propose spacecraft, or 
participate as a member of a science team in response to any future 
Announcement of Opportunity.

SCIENCE BACKGROUND

In the last four years, our understanding of the martian polar regions 
has been greatly advanced by the analysis of data acquired by the Mars 
Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft. This data has yielded the first 
high-resolution topographic maps of the north and south polar ice 
caps, meter-scale images of the polar layered stratigraphy, and 
year-round coverage of the thermophysical, radiative, and 
compositional properties of the polar atmosphere and surface.

This influx of new data has recently been augmented by the arrival of 
the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, whose Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) and 
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) are providing dramatic new 
insights into the nature of the poles. Within the next three years, a 
variety of additional investigations will be conducted by the upcoming 
Mars Express (2003) and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (2005) missions - 
including our first look at the internal structure and basal 
topography of the polar deposits (obtained from the orbital radar 
sounders that will be flown on both spacecraft).

Some of the specific issues and questions that will be addressed at 
the meeting include:

   * How did the martian polar ice caps and layered deposits
     originate? How old are they? And what is the chronology of
     events recorded in their strata?
   * How do the compositional, physical, thermal, and radiative
     properties of the deposits vary, both geographically and with
     depth?
   * What does their stratigraphy tell us about the annual cycles
     of carbon dioxide, water, and dust? And how have these cycles
     changed with time?
   * Is there evidence of past or present glacial flow? How did
     the spiral pattern of scarps and troughs develop and how do
     they evolve with time?
   * Is the base of either cap at the melting point? Do basal
     lakes or other environments exist that are suitable for the
     survival and growth of indigenous life?
   * How can the knowledge and experience gained from
     investigations of the Earth's polar ice sheets (e.g., radio
     echo sounding, core sampling and stratigraphic analysis, ice
     margin studies, exploration of Lake Vostok and the Dry
     Valleys, etc.) benefit Mars polar exploration?

(continued)

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