MESSENGER Gamma Ray Spectrometer and Epithermal Neutron Hydrogen Data Reveal Compositional Differences Between Mercury's Hot and Cold Poles

The presence of hydrogen, most likely in the form of water ice, is well established in Mercury's permanently shaded polar craters. But lower concentrations that may exist away from the poles have not previously been well constrained. In this work we use data from the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) Gamma‐Ray and Neutron Spectrometer to produce the first map of the absolute hydrogen abundance in Mercury's northern hemisphere. We find a mean abundance of [Formula: see text] ppm and a latitudinal trend that agrees with earlier results showing enhanced hydrogen contained within Mercury's radar bright craters. Additionally, we observe a middle‐ and low‐latitude variation in hydrogen abundance that is correlated most strongly with temperature 20 cm beneath Mercury's surface.