How much material do the radar-bright craters at the Mercurian poles contain?

• Published in: Planetary and space science Vol. 53; no. 14; pp. 1496 - 1500
• Main Authors: Vilas, Faith, Cobian, Paul S., Barlow, Nadine G., Lederer, Susan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2005
• Subjects: Cratering; Ices; Mercury; Radar; Surfaces, planets; Terrestrial planets; PN, Arctic, North Pole; Terrestrial planets; Cratering; Ices; Surfaces, planets; Mercury; Radar
• ISSN: 0032-0633; 1873-5088
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2005.07.003

The depth-to-diameter (d/D) ratios were determined for 12 craters located near the Mercurian north pole that were identified by Harmon et al. (2001, Icarus 149) as having strong depolarized radar echos. We find that the mean d/D value of these radar-bright craters is 2 3 the mean d/D value of the general population of non-radar-bright craters in the surrounding north polar region. Previous studies, however, show no difference between d/D values of Mercurian polar and equatorial crater populations, suggesting that no terrain softening which could modify crater structure exists at the Mercurian poles (Barlow et al., 1999, 194, Icarus 141). Thus, the change in d/D is governed by a change in crater depth, probably due to deposition of material inside the crater. The volume of infilling material, including volatiles, in the radar-bright craters is significantly greater than predicted by proposed mechanisms for the emplacement of either water ice or sulfur.