Other
Scientific paper
Sep 1990
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990sci...249.1140s&link_type=abstract
Science (ISSN 0036-8075), vol. 249, Sept. 7, 1990, p. 1140-1142. Research supported by the Research Corp.
Other
49
Mercury Atmosphere, Potassium, Abundance, Emission Spectra, Planetary Structure, Regolith, Solar Radiation, Ultraviolet Radiation
Scientific paper
Enhanced abundances of neutral K in the atmosphere of Mercury have been found above the longitude range containing Caloris Basin. Results of a large data set including six elongations of the planet between June 1986 and January 1988 show typical K column abundances of about 5.4 x 10 to the 8th K atmos/sq cm. During the observing period in October 1987, when Caloris Basin was in view, the typical K column was about 2.7 x 10 to the 9th K atoms/sq cm. Another large value was seen over the Caloris antipode in January 1988. This enhancement is consistent with an increased source of K from the well-fractured crust and regolith associated with this large impact basin. The phenomenon is localized because at most solar angles, thermal alkali atoms cannot move more than a few hundred kilometers from their source before being lost to ionization by solar ultraviolet radiation.
Hunten Donald M.
Kozlowski Richard W. H.
Sprague Ann L.
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