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Ice concentration and distribution near the south pole of Mars: Synthesis of odyssey and global surveyor analyses
Author(s) -
Tokar R. L.,
Feldman W. C.,
Prettyman T. H.,
Moore K. R.,
Lawrence D. J.,
Elphic R. C.,
Kreslavsky M. A.,
Head J. W.,
Mustard J. F.,
Boynton W. V.
Publication year - 2002
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 - 10.1029/2002gl015691
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , geology , orbiter , spectrometer , altimeter , mantle (geology) , geophysics , geodesy , astrobiology , physics , astronomy , optics
Mars Odyssey Gamma‐Ray Spectrometer (GRS) neutron spectrometer data are analyzed to determine the concentration and boundary of buried water ice near the south pole. The measurements are consistent with a circumpolar layer of average ice concentration from 35 to 100% by weight and superposed dust with thickness density product 30 to 40 g/cm 2 . The region of buried water ice extends from near the south pole to latitudes 48S to 58S. The equatorward boundary of the ice‐rich region compares favorably with the boundary of an ice‐rich dust mantle inferred from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter data and the locations of dissected terrain inferred from Mars Orbiter Camera images. The ice‐rich mantle is identified as the source of enhanced hydrogen sensed by the neutron spectrometer.