A tale of two poles: Toward understanding the presence, distribution, and origin of volatiles at the polar regions of the Moon and Mercury
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: The Moon and Mercury both have permanently shaded regions (PSRs) at their poles, which are locations that do not see the Sun for geologically long periods of time. The PSRs of the Moon and Mercury have very cold temperatures (<120 K) and as a consequence act as traps for volatile materials. Volatile enhancements have been detected and characterized at both planetary bodies, but the volatile concentrations at Mercury's poles are significantly larger than at the Moon's poles. This paper documents the study of PSR volatiles at the Moon and Mercury that has taken place over the past 60 years. Starting with speculative ideas in the 1950s and 1960s, the field of PSR volatiles has emerged into a thriving subfield of planetary science that has significant implications for scientific studies of the solar system, as well as future human exploration of the solar system. While much has been learned about PSRs and PSR volatiles, many foundational aspects of PSRs are still not understood. One of the most important unanswered questions is why the PSR volatile concentrations at the Moon and Mercury are so different. After describing the initial predictions and measurements of PSR volatiles, this paper documents a variety of PSR measurements, summarizes the current understanding of PSR volatiles, and then suggests what new measurements and studies are needed to answer many of the remaining open questions about PSR volatiles.
DOI: 10.1002/2016je005167
Author: David J. Lawrence
Institution: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Language: English
Topic: Astro and Planetary Science
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,070
Awards: G2982061714, INVESTIGATING MERCURY'S COMPOSITION AND GEOLOGY USING ORBITAL NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPYWE PROPOSE TO US, FPDS BASE DESCRIPTION MULTIPLE YEAR AWARD&INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR YEARS ONE TO FIVE. THIS PROPOSAL IS ENTITLED VOLATILES REGOLITH AND THERMAL INVESTIGATIONS CONSORTIUM FOR EXPLORATION AND SCIENCE (VORTICES). THIS IS AWARDED IN RESPONSE TO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICE (CAN) NO. NNH13ZDA006C SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION RESEARCH VIRTUAL INSTITUTE (SSERVI) CYCLE TWO. THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR IS DR. BENJAMIN J. BUSSEY WITH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (JHU BALT). PROJECT SUMMARY: THE SURFACE&NEAR-SURFACE OF PLANETARY OBJECT IS HOST TO A WIDE VARIETY OF PROCESSES. IT IS THE PART OF THE BODY THAT INTERACTS WITH IMPACTS SOLAR&GALACTIC ENERGY TO CREATE OR DESTROY VOLATILES IT IS THE PART THAT WE SEE WITH REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS &THE PART THAT WILL BE SAMPLED&TESTED BY ROBOTS&ASTRONAUTS. THE VORTICES TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED A SET OF INTERLOCKING THEMES CONSIDERING THE ENTIRE REGOLITH-VOLATILE SYSTEM OF THE MOON&SMALL BODIES IN THE CONTEXT OF SCIENCE&EXPLORATION. THESE THEMES ARE: 1) VOLATILES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM: SOURCES PROCESSES AND SINKS: UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHERE VOLATILES (E.G. OH&H2O) FORM HOW THEY INTERACT PHYSICALLY AND/OR CHEMICALLY WITH REGOLITH HOW THEY ARE TRANSPORTED ACROSS&WITHIN THE REGOLITH &THEIR ULTIMATE FATE BE IT SEQUESTRATION IN A COLD TRAP OR LOSS FROM THE BODY 2) REGOLITH: ORIGIN&EVOLUTION ON AIRLESS BODIES: UNDERSTAND HOW REGOLITHS ARE FORMED&EVOLVE &HOW THOSE FORMATION&EVOLUTION PROCESSES VARY ACROSS THE INNER SOLAR SYSTEM 3) RESOURCES: IDENTIFICATION&EXPLOITATION: UNDERSTAND HOW VOLATILE&SOLAR ILLUMINATION RESOURCES ARE DISTRIBUTED&HOW THEY ENABLE ROBOTIC&HUMAN EXPLORATION AND 4) FILLING STRATEGIC KNOWLEDGE GAPS: UNDERSTAND&ADDRESS THOSE UNKNOWNS IN KNOWLEDGE&TECHNIQUE NEEDED TO ENABLE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF THE MOON ASTEROIDS&THE MARTIAN MOONS. THE THEMES SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS FENCED-OFF RESEARCH EFFORTS BUT SHOULD BE PICTURED AS COMPONENT PARTS OF THE INTEGRATED EFFORT THAT IS VORTICES., THE OLD PARADIGM OF AN ALMOST COMPLETELY DRY MOON IS UNDERGOING A MAJOR REVISION WITH NEW SPACE- AND SAMPLED-BASED DATA. THE EXISTENCE OF AN UNEXPECT
OpenAlex ID: W2564317888