Detailed Picture of Mars With Ice

The main difference between Mars and Earth is that water on the Red Planet is rarely liquid and spends most of its time in gas or frozen form. There are pictures that reveal a range of ice-made features that show a strong preference to certain latitudes. Scientists used to have to study small postage-stamp size pictures, but can now rely on much better pictures to learn more about the mysterious planet. The signs of water ice are obvious at each of Mars' poles. However, as you move toward the equator, there is plenty of evidence that water ice had shaped the surface at one time. Not far from either pole, widespread bumpy polygonal patterned ground suggests the expansion and contraction of icy permafrost ground. This is very similar to Earth's Arctic and Antarctic regions. Even closer to the equator next to Mars' equatorial volcanoes are signs of glacial debris and small valleys which drop into canyons. On Earth this is a strong indication that a glacier once filled and shaped the canyon. Among the instruments used to study Mars are the Mars Global Surveyor's Laser Altimeter (MOLA) and Camera (MOC), the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Context Camera (CTX) and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), and the Mars Express's High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). These instruments have helped scientists in unlocking the secrets behind Mars' history. Below is a picture of the south polar region of Mars. Today's Martian polar caps were once titled toward the Sun more. This drove the ice to the lower latitudes, thus creating glaciers and other icy formations.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071026095131.htm