HR: 0830h
AN: P11B-1042 [PDF]
TI: Measuring Water Content and Desorption Isotherms in Soil Simulants Under Martian Conditions
AU: * Hudson, T
EM: thudson@gps.caltech.edu
AF: Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91106 United States
AU: Aharonson, O
EM: oa@gps.caltech.edu
AF: Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91106 United States
AU: Schorghofer, N
EM: norbert@gps.caltech.edu
AF: Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91106 United States
AU: Hecht, M H
EM: Mike.H.Hecht@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Bridges, N
EM: Nathan.T.Bridges@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AU: Green, J R
EM: Jacklyn.R.Green@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 United States
AB:
Theoretical predictions as well as recent spacecraft observations indicate
that large quantities of ice is present in the high latitudes upper
decimeters to meters of the Martian regolith. At shallower depths and
warmer locations small amounts of H$_2$O, either adsorbed or free, may be
present transiently. We seek to simulate Mars surface conditions and to
observe the effects of temperature cycling (diurnal and seasonal scale) on
the water content profiles of several soil simulants. To model the upper
Martian regolith, we begin by using crushed JSC Mars-1 palagonite with
particles in the 50 micron to sub-micron size range. Spheres of pure
silica in the 10 to 40 mm range may also be used to study the effects of
grain surface morphology and composition. Simulants with various water
contents are brought to Mars pressures and monitored. A line source
heat-pulse probe is being prepared to monitor water content profiles in
real-time and to be calibrated against water content samples measured with
thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Initial experiments will allow us to
monitor water content; more refined investigations will permit the
determination of desorption isotherms.
DE: 5465 Rings and dust
DE: 5470 Surface materials and properties
DE: 5494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting