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Regions of Potential Existence of Free Water (Ice) in the Near-Surface Martian Ground: Results from theMars OdysseyHigh-Energy Neutron Detector (HEND) |
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| Authors: | R O Kuzmin E V Zabalueva I G Mitrofanov M L Litvak W V Boynton R S Saunders |
| Institution: | (1) Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kosygina 19, Moscow, 117975, Russia;(2) Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya 84/32, Moscow, 117810, Russia;(3) Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;(4) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA |
| Abstract: | We report results of the analysis of the data on global mapping of neutron fluxes from the Martian surface, which have been obtained during the first ten months of measurements carried out by the Russian high-energy neutron detector HEND mounted aboard the AmericanMars Odysseyorbiter. This analysis allowed us to separate regions where free water (in ice form) prevailed in the surface layer (with a thickness of up to 2 m) of the Martian ground from regions where physically and chemically bound ground water was most likely to be the dominant form of water. The global mapping of regions with increased ice content in the ground-surface layer revealed a direct correlation with regions of polygonal terrains morphologically similar to terrestrial polygonal forms of permafrost origin. The potential content of bound water forms in the ground of circumpolar areas of the planet is also estimated. |
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