New research suggests Mercurys poles are icier than scientists thought

[Judi Lynn]

THE SCORCHING HOT SURFACE OF MERCURY SEEMS LIKE AN UNLIKELY PLACE TO FIND ICE, BUT RESEARCH OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES HAS SUGGESTED THAT WATER IS FROZEN ON THE FIRST ROCK FROM THE SUN, HIDDEN AWAY ON CRATER FLOORS THAT ARE PERMANENTLY SHADOWED FROM THE SUN’S BLISTERING RAYS.

Now, a new study led by Brown University researchers suggests that there could be much more ice on Mercury’s surface than previously thought.

The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, adds three new members to the list of craters near Mercury’s north pole that appear to harbor large surface ice deposits. But in addition to those large deposits, the research also shows evidence that smaller-scale deposits scattered around Mercury’s north pole, both inside craters and in shadowed terrain between craters. Those deposits may be small, but they could add up to a lot more previously unaccounted-for ice.

“The assumption has been that surface ice on Mercury exists predominantly in large craters, but we show evidence for these smaller-scale deposits as well,” said Ariel Deutsch, the study’s lead author and a Ph.D. candidate at Brown. “Adding these small-scale deposits to the large deposits within craters adds significantly to the surface ice inventory on Mercury.”

More:
http://www.heritagedaily.com/2017/09/new-research-suggests-mercurys-poles-icier-scientists-thought/116494