Premium
On determining the zenith angle dependence of the Martian radiation environment at Gale Crater altitudes
Author(s) -
WimmerSchweingruber Robert F.,
Köhler Jan,
Hassler Donald M.,
Guo Jingnan,
Appel JanKristoffer,
Zeitlin Cary,
Böhm Eckart,
Ehresmann Bent,
Lohf Henning,
Böttcher Stephan I.,
Burmeister Sönke,
Martin Cesar,
Kharytonov Alexander,
Brinza David E.,
Posner Arik,
Reitz Günther,
Matthiä Daniel,
Rafkin Scott,
Weigle Gerald,
Cucinotta Francis
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl066664
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , martian , impact crater , zenith , astrobiology , martian surface , regolith , geology , tilt (camera) , exploration of mars , radiation , atmosphere of mars , environmental science , remote sensing , physics , optics , geometry , mathematics
We report the zenith angle dependence of the radiation environment at Gale Crater on Mars. This is the first determination of this dependence on another planet than Earth and is important for future human exploration of Mars and understanding radiation effects in the Martian regolith. Within the narrow range of tilt angles (0≤ θ 0 ≤15°) experienced by Curiosity on Mars, we find a dependence J ∝ cosγ ′( θ ) withγ ′ = 1 . 18 ± 0 . 07 , which is not too different from an isotropic radiation field and quite different from that at sea level on Earth whereγ ′ ≈ 2 . 0 .