On determining the zenith angle dependence of the Martian radiation environment at Gale Crater altitudes
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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≤θ0≤15°) experienced by Curiosity on Mars, we find a dependence with , which is not too different from an isotropic radiation field and quite different from that at sea level on Earth where .
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Within the narrow range of tilt angles (<15°), the particle flux on the surface of Mars depends on zenith angle as cos^c(θ) with c = 1.18 ± 0.07.
“Wimmer-Schweingruber et al. (2015) have studied the zenith angle dependence of the particle fluxes on the surface of Mars and found that within the narrow range of tilt angles ð 15 Þ; there is a dependence of the flux / cos c ðhÞ with c ¼ 1:18 Æ 0:07.”
From Radiation environment for future human exploration on the surface of Mars: the current understanding based on MSL/RAD dose measurements (2021) · cites this paper as Wimmer-Schweingruber et al. 2015
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“Wimmer-Schweingruber et al. (2015) have studied the zenith angle dependence of the particle fluxes on the surface of Mars and found that within the narrow range of tilt angles ð 15 Þ; there is a dependence of the flux / coscðhÞ with c ¼ 1:18 0:07.”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Wimmer‐Schweingruber, R. F., Köhler, J., Hassler, D. M., Guo, J., Appel, J., Zeitlin, C., Böhm, E., Ehresmann, B., Lohf, H., Böttcher, S. I., Burmeister, S., Martin, C., Kharytonov, A., Brinza, D. E., Posner, A., Reitz, G., Matthiä, D., Rafkin, S., Weigle, G., & Cucinotta, F.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics University of Kiel Kiel Germany
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- Southwest Research Institute (US)
- Lockheed Martin (United States) (US)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (DE)
- Big Head Endian Burden Kansas USA
- Department of Health Physics and Diagnostic Services Las Vegas Nevada USA
- ORCID
- Venue
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2015-12-28
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 24
- ISSN
- 0094-8276 (ISSN-L)
- 1944-8007
- OpenAlex
- W2300624505
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Geophysical Research Letters (publishedVersion)
- elib (German Aerospace Center) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1273039)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Keywords
- zenith angle dependence, Gale Crater, Curiosity rover, Mars atmosphere, human Mars exploration, solar zenith angle
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