Density of mars' south polar layered deposits

Maria T. Zuber; Roger J. Phillips; Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna; Sami W. Asmar; Alexander S. Konopliv; Frank G. Lemoine; Jeffrey J. Plaut; David E. Smith; Suzanne E. Smrekar

doi:10.1126/science.1146995

Density of mars' south polar layered deposits

Maria T. Zuber, Roger J. Phillips, Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna, Sami W. Asmar, Alexander S. Konopliv, Frank G. Lemoine, Jeffrey J. Plaut, David E. Smith, Suzanne E. Smrekar

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

91 Scopus citations

Abstract

Both poles of Mars are hidden beneath caps of layered ice. We calculated the density of the south polar layered deposits by combining the gravity field obtained from initial results of radio tracking of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter with existing surface topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and basal topography from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on the Mars Express spacecraft. The results indicate a best-fit density of 1220 kilograms per cubic meter, which is consistent with water ice that has ∼15% admixed dust. The results demonstrate that the deposits are probably composed of relatively clean water ice and also refine the martian surface-water inventory.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1718-1719
Number of pages	2
Journal	Science
Volume	317
Issue number	5845
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1146995
State	Published - Sep 21 2007
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Density of mars' south polar layered deposits",

abstract = "Both poles of Mars are hidden beneath caps of layered ice. We calculated the density of the south polar layered deposits by combining the gravity field obtained from initial results of radio tracking of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter with existing surface topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and basal topography from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on the Mars Express spacecraft. The results indicate a best-fit density of 1220 kilograms per cubic meter, which is consistent with water ice that has ∼15% admixed dust. The results demonstrate that the deposits are probably composed of relatively clean water ice and also refine the martian surface-water inventory.",

author = "Zuber, {Maria T.} and Phillips, {Roger J.} and Andrews-Hanna, {Jeffrey C.} and Asmar, {Sami W.} and Konopliv, {Alexander S.} and Lemoine, {Frank G.} and Plaut, {Jeffrey J.} and Smith, {David E.} and Smrekar, {Suzanne E.}",

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T1 - Density of mars' south polar layered deposits

AU - Zuber, Maria T.

AU - Phillips, Roger J.

AU - Andrews-Hanna, Jeffrey C.

AU - Asmar, Sami W.

AU - Konopliv, Alexander S.

AU - Lemoine, Frank G.

AU - Plaut, Jeffrey J.

AU - Smith, David E.

AU - Smrekar, Suzanne E.

PY - 2007/9/21

Y1 - 2007/9/21

N2 - Both poles of Mars are hidden beneath caps of layered ice. We calculated the density of the south polar layered deposits by combining the gravity field obtained from initial results of radio tracking of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter with existing surface topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and basal topography from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on the Mars Express spacecraft. The results indicate a best-fit density of 1220 kilograms per cubic meter, which is consistent with water ice that has ∼15% admixed dust. The results demonstrate that the deposits are probably composed of relatively clean water ice and also refine the martian surface-water inventory.

AB - Both poles of Mars are hidden beneath caps of layered ice. We calculated the density of the south polar layered deposits by combining the gravity field obtained from initial results of radio tracking of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter with existing surface topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and basal topography from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on the Mars Express spacecraft. The results indicate a best-fit density of 1220 kilograms per cubic meter, which is consistent with water ice that has ∼15% admixed dust. The results demonstrate that the deposits are probably composed of relatively clean water ice and also refine the martian surface-water inventory.

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Density of mars' south polar layered deposits

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