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Chapter 6: Problem 6

If Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and has such a high average surface temperature, how is it possible that ice might exist on its surface?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Ice can exist on Mercury's surface due to the extreme temperature variations between day and night, the existence of permanently shadowed regions in deep impact craters near its poles, and the accumulation of water ice from meteoroids and comets.

Step by step solution

01

Examine Mercury's Characteristics

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, with an average distance of about 57.9 million kilometers. It has a very thin atmosphere and no substantial protective layer, which causes it to experience extreme temperature variations between day and night. Its high average surface temperature is mainly due to its proximity to the Sun and the lack of an atmosphere to regulate its temperature.
02

Understand Temperature Variations on Mercury

Due to the lack of atmosphere and Mercury's slow rotation (one rotation takes 58.6 Earth days), the side facing the Sun can reach scorching temperatures of up to 430°C (800°F) during the day. On the contrary, the side away from the Sun experiences extremely cold temperatures, dropping as low as -180°C (-290°F) during the night. These temperature fluctuations create opportunities for certain areas of Mercury's surface to harbor ice.
03

Identify Areas with Permanent Shadow

Mercury has deep impact craters near its poles, and some of these craters have areas that are permanently shadowed from the Sun's rays. These permanently shadowed regions are also called "cold traps" because they are significantly colder than the rest of the planet, with temperatures that can remain consistently below -170°C (-275°F).
04

Discover Ice on Mercury's Surface

In these permanently shadowed regions of Mercury's poles, radar observations from Earth-based telescopes and data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft have detected the presence of ice, mainly in the form of water ice mixed with other frozen volatile compounds. The ice is likely sourced from meteoroids and comets that released water upon impact with the surface of Mercury. To conclude, ice can exist on Mercury's surface despite its high average temperature and proximity to the Sun due to the extreme temperature variations between day and night, the existence of permanently shadowed regions in deep impact craters near its poles, and the accumulation of water ice from meteoroids and comets.

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