Spectrophotometric observations of the R branch of the weak v1t2v2Q3v2 band of CO2 at 1.05 ~ in the spectrum of Mars yield an atmospheric abundance of 69-~26 (atm m) STP Taken together with the results of Gray's (1965) analysis of the strong bands of CO2 at 2.0 ~, this abundance indicates a surface pressure in the range of 3-13 mbar. Individual lines in the branch have been resolved up to J=28 and their intensity distribution indicates a rotational temperature of 194 0K. The head region alone yields a somewhat higher temperature of 210 0K. The observations were also analyzed with the help of a polytropic model atmosphere. The most satisfactory fit to the data was found for a mean surface temperature of 270 0K over the illuminated disk and a lapse rate of 5 K/km. A brief discussion of the compatibility of the present observations with others that are available concludes the paper.
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Belton et al. (1966) studied this question.