H2O at the Phoenix landing site.
The Phoenix mission investigated patterned ground and weather in the northern arctic region of Mars for 5 months starting 25 May 2008 (solar longitude between 76.5 degrees and 148 degrees ). A shallow ice table was uncovered by the robotic arm in the center and edge of a nearby polygon at depths of 5 to 18 centimeters. In late summer, snowfall and frost blanketed the surface at night; H(2)O ice and vapor constantly interacted with the soil. The soil was alkaline (pH = 7.7) and contained CaCO(3), aqueous minerals, and salts up to several weight percent in the indurated surface soil. Their formation likely required the presence of water.
Smith
P H
PH
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. psmith@lpl.arizona.edu
Tamppari
L K
LK
Arvidson
R E
RE
Bass
D
D
Blaney
D
D
Boynton
W V
WV
Carswell
A
A
Catling
D C
DC
Clark
B C
BC
Duck
T
T
Dejong
E
E
Fisher
D
D
Goetz
W
W
Gunnlaugsson
H P
HP
Hecht
M H
MH
Hipkin
V
V
Hoffman
J
J
Hviid
S F
SF
Keller
H U
HU
Kounaves
S P
SP
Lange
C F
CF
Lemmon
M T
MT
Madsen
M B
MB
Markiewicz
W J
WJ
Marshall
J
J
McKay
C P
CP
Mellon
M T
MT
Ming
D W
DW
Morris
R V
RV
Pike
W T
WT
Renno
N
N
Staufer
U
U
Stoker
C
C
Taylor
P
P
Whiteway
J A
JA
Zent
A P
AP
D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007053:Ice; D018535:Mars; D012371:Robotics; D018531:Spacecraft; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D002119:Calcium Carbonate