Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufm.c12c..02f&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #C12C-02
Physics
5462 Polar Regions, 6225 Mars, 6235 Mercury, 6250 Moon (1221)
Scientific paper
Neutron and gamma-ray spectroscopy have been applied to the Moon and Mars in order to map the abundance of hydrogen within their uppermost meter of soil These investigations will be extended to Mercury using the neutron and gamma-ray spectrometers that are part of the payload of the Messenger mission. Significant enhancements in hydrogen were observed within the permanently shaded crater bottoms near both poles of the Moon using this technique and shown, through arguments of stability, to most likely be in the form of water ice [Feldman et al., J.G.R., 106, 23,231, 2001]. Simulations of the signature of hydrogen in neutrons for the measured topography at the lunar poles, yields an estimated H2O abundance of 1.5 percent by mass within the permanently-shaded areas. Radar backscatter observations from Mercury [Harmon et al., Nature, 369, 213, 1994] have discovered anomalous enhancements within permanently shaded craters near both poles of Mercury of same-sense polarization that are most readily interpreted as near-surface water ice. We will have to wait until about 2010 to verify this interpretation using neutron spectroscopy. After 1.5 years in orbit about Mars, three reservoirs of water-equivalent hydrogen have been delineated. Two of them at high northern and southern latitudes run upward of 20 percent H2O by mass, and the third at equatorial to mid latitudes extends between 2 percent and 13 percent by mass.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Distribution of Near-Surface Ground Ice from Neutron and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy on Mars, the Moon, and Mercury does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Distribution of Near-Surface Ground Ice from Neutron and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy on Mars, the Moon, and Mercury, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Distribution of Near-Surface Ground Ice from Neutron and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy on Mars, the Moon, and Mercury will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1424465