Reading the climate record of the martian polar layered deposits

► We develop a model for building up the north polar layered deposits on Mars. ► Ice and dust deposition rates are related to insolation through physical processes. ► The model is tuned to provide a plausible match to the observed NPLD stratigraphy. ► The tuned model dates the top 500 m of the NPLD to ∼1 million years before present. ► The model relates the NPLD stratigraphy to the insolation record.