Example comparing thermal inertia map with elevation, albedo, and dust.

Which image below looks most like the thermal inertia image: the Colorized Elevation, the Albedo, or the TES Dust Coverage?

Do you think Mars' dust cover affects how we collect data, such as detecting what’s beneath the surface?

White areas represent high emission of light from the surface.

Ruff, S. W., and P. R. Christensen, Bright and dark regions on Mars: Particle size and mineralogical characteristics based on Thermal Emission Spectrometer data, J. Geophys. Res., 107(E12), 5127, doi:10.1029/2001JE001580, 2002

Note on histogram color chart:

Dark blue/magenta end of the chart represents minimal dust coverage, while red represents maximum dust coverage. From above reference; "It is widely accepted that the lowest thermal inertia regions on the planet must be mantled with dust at least a few centimeters thick." The curve on the histogram color key chart indicates how the silicate dust reflects more strongly at certain wavelengths.