Seasonal Variations of Soil Thermal Conductivity at the InSight Landing Site

The heat flow and physical properties package measured soil thermal conductivity at the landing site in 0.03–0.37 m depth range. Six measurements spanning solar longitudes from 8.0° to 210.0° were made atmospheric pressure was simultaneously using InSight's Pressure Sensor. We find that strongly correlates with pressure. This trend is compatible predictions of dependence for unconsolidated soils under martian conditions, indicating transport through pore filling gas a major contributor total transport. Therefore, any cementation or induration sampled by experiments must be minimal surrounding mole depths below duricrust likely unconsolidated. Thermal data presented here are first direct evidence atmosphere interacts top most meter material on Mars.