![Click here for animation of PIA11029](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090830183150im_/http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/figures/PIA11029_thumb.jpg)
Click on image for animation
This movie shifts from a global zoom indicating the Phoenix landing area
on Mars to a topographical map indicating relative elevations in the
landing region. The elevations could affect wind patterns at the site.
In particular, Phoenix is in a broad, shallow valley. The edge of the
valley, about 150 meters (500 feet) above the floor, may provide enough of
a slope to the east of Phoenix to explain winds coming from the east
during nights at the site. Cooler, denser air could be sinking down the
slope and toward the lander.
Atmospheric scientists on the Phoenix team are analyzing wind patterns to
distiguish effects of nearby topography from larger-scale movement of the
atmosphere in the polar region.
The elevation information for this topographical mapping comes from the
Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter. The
blue-coded area is the valley floor. Orange and yellow indicate relatively
higher elevations.
The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf
of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, Denver. JPL managed the Mars Global Surveyor mission for
the NASA Science Mission Directorate.