HR: 16:45h
AN: G42C-04 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: Constraints on Mars Interior from k2 Love number, Moment of Inertia and Crustal Thickness
AU: * Yoder, C F
EM: charles.f.yoder@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Lab, CalTech, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109
AU: Konopliv, A
EM: Alex.konopliv@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Lab, CalTech, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109
AU: Folkner, W M
EM: William.M.Folkner@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Lab, CalTech, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109
AB: The solar tide of Mars, measured by its potential Love number k2 (=0.153+-0.015 ) has been obtained from analysis of MGS radio tracking through June 2003. Atmospheric tides and inelasticity contribute to the observed signal, and we estimate that the `elastic' component is k2=0.145+-0.0015. This parameter is sensitive to core size and mantle rigidity profile and indirectly on mantle composition and thermal profile. Similarly, the moment of inertia C (=0.3650+-0.0012) has been deduced from the secular precession of Mars pole of rotation, where Pathfinder and Viking tracking data are the primary data constraints. Moment of inertia is sensitive to thickness and density of the primary units: crust, mantle and core. Correlation of Mars nonspherical gravity field (primarily contrained by MGS tracking) and surface topography (fixed by MOLA data) promises to limit the thickness and density of the crustal unit overlying the mantle, with theoretical thickness estimates ranging from 50 to 100km, although any given model estimate typically limits thickness to +-10km. We shall discuss the reliability of the estimated parameters. The details related to constructing interior models (composition, density, thickness of units), from which theoretical estimates of moment and Love number are derived, also shall be discussed.
DE: 1227 Planetary geodesy and gravity (5420, 5714, 6019)
DE: 5409 Atmospheres--structure and dynamics
DE: 5417 Gravitational fields (1227)
DE: 5430 Interiors (8147)
SC: Geodesy [G]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting