Very interesting article. Just as recently as March, Christensen et.al. presented a report to the LPSC conference that such hot spots had not been seen by THEMIS:
Early Results from the Odyssey THEMIS Investigation.
Philip R. Christensen et.al.
Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV (2003)
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2003/pdf/1519.pdf
Also I noted that there was some blurriness in the daytime IR image you cited:
Hellas Basin
http://themis-data.asu.edu/img/I01047002.html
This was also noted in regard to this winter visible image:
PIA04055: Winter in Hellas Basin
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04055
Perhaps the cause could be the gas release from such fumaroles or due to sublimation of ice due to the heat from the hot spots.
Bob Clark
Space/Science » in reply to Or maybe it did...
Re: Or maybe it did...