Global Distribution of Neutrons from Mars: Results from Mars Odyssey
Abstract
Global distributions of thermal, epithermal, and fast neutron fluxes have been mapped during late southern summer/northern winter using the Mars Odyssey Neutron Spectrometer. These fluxes are selectively sensitive to the vertical and lateral spatial distributions of H and CO 2 in the uppermost meter of the martian surface. Poleward of ±60° latitude is terrain rich in hydrogen, probably H 2 O ice buried beneath tens of centimeter-thick hydrogen-poor soil. The central portion of the north polar cap is covered by a thick CO 2 layer, as is the residual south polar cap. Portions of the low to middle latitudes indicate subsurface deposits of chemically and/or physically bound H 2 O and/or OH.
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Albedo neutrons produced in the top layer of Martian soil are abundant.
“This is particularly true on the surface of Mars, where”
From Measurements of the neutron spectrum on the Martian surface with MSL/RAD (2014) · cites this paper as Feldman et al., 2002
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Feldman, W. C., Boynton, W. V., Tokar, R. L., Prettyman, T. H., Gasnault, O., Squyres, S. W., Elphic, R. C., Lawrence, D. J., Lawson, S. L., Maurice, S., McKinney, G. W., Moore, K. R., & Reedy, R. C.
- Affiliations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- Cornell University (US)
- Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Feldman, W. C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2002-07-05
- Volume
- 297
- Issue
- 5578
- Pages
- 75-78
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2150494204
- Cited by
- 544
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 30.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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 › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Climate change and permafrost
- Keywords
- Mars, neutron flux, thermal neutrons, epithermal neutrons, fast neutrons, hydrogen distribution, carbon dioxide, polar cap, subsurface water ice, hydroxyl
- MeSH terms
- Dry Ice, Extraterrestrial Environment, Gamma Rays, Hydrogen, Ice, Neutrons, Spectrometry, Gamma, Spectrum Analysis, Temperature, Water, Spacecraft, Mars
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