40. Mokuaweoweo Caldera, Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Experience with the analysis of Hawaiian volcanos using thermal infrared (8.0-12.0 micrometers) data has shown that it is much easier to map subtle lava flow boundaries using such data rather than conventional photography or near-infrared (1.0-2.4 micrometer) images. Such observations suggest that mapping lava flows on martian volcanos may also be possible by using the Mars Observer Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), which operates in the same spectral range. Here we see three different band combinations of data of the summit caldera of Mauna Loa Volcano (Mokuaweoweo Caldera) that were obtained by the NASA/JPL airborne Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) instrument. Mokuaweoweo Caldera is approximately 4.0 kilometers long by 2.5 kilometers wide. North is at the top of each image.

Images courtesy of H. Garbeil.

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