Redistribution of subsurface neutrons caused by ground ice on Mars

Details Redistribution of subsurface neutrons caused by ground ice on Mars Redistribution of subsurface neutrons caused by ground ice on Mars

Nov 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993jgr....9820855f&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 98, no. E11, p. 20,855-20,870

Physics

25

Depth Measurement, Fast Neutrons, Geochemistry, Land Ice, Mars (Planet), Mars Surface, Neutron Flux Density, Thermal Neutrons, Abundance, Computerized Simulation, Gamma Ray Spectrometers, Gamma Rays, Mathematical Models, Remote Sensing, Thickness Ratio

Scientific paper

As part of an ongoing effort to understand data that will be returned by the Mars Observer Gamma Ray Spectrometer (MOGRS) experiment, we calculate neutron and gamma ray fluxes for simple models describing near-surface ground ice on Mars. Our goal is to determine the limits in information content of remotely sensed neutrons and gamma rays is delineating the abundance of ground ice and its distribution with depth. Such ice is expected based on simple theoretical calculations of the H2O environment of the martian surface and atmosphere. We find it produces a marked redistribution of neutrons with depth. Neutron-capture gamma ray production closely follows the flux of thermal neutrons and is likewise redistributed with depth. Calculated effects at Mars mapping orbit are sufficiently large that, if ice is present at the depths and in the quantities expected, the MOGRS should provide a robust detection of its presence. Although in the information content of gamma rays and neutrons alone is not sufficient to define the many parameters needed to specify its abundance and emplacement below the surface, their combined use might allow separation of the ice abundance from its vertical distribution within the regolith.

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