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MARCI's MISSION
(MArs Color Imager)


The Mars Color Imager (MARCI) functions both as a wide-angle and medium-angle camera. The wide-angle camera will send daily global maps of Mars back to Earth. These maps will track dust storms, clouds and weather patterns, observe changes to the polar region, and search for changes in surface dust. The medium-angle camera, which has color filters and a higher resolution, will determine the composition of surface materials and the levels of ozone and other gases in the atmosphere. This will provide a wealth of information of the weather, and the seasonal changes that affect the Martian terrain.

The data collected by MARCI is strongly related to the data from the orbiter's weather station, PMIRR. MARCI will provide visual evidence of the clouds that are sensed by PMIRR. It will also verify PMIRR's predictions of cloud speeds. In addition, PMIRR's measrements of dust in the atmosphere will help researchers distinguish Martian surface features from atmospheric conditions such as dust storms.