Ethane clathrate hydrate infrared signatures for solar system remote sensing

Hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane are present in many solar system objects, including comets, moons and planets. The interaction of these hydrocarbons with water ice at low temperatures could lead to the formation of inclusion compounds, such as clathrate hydrates (water based host cages trapping guest molecules), modifying their retention, stability and therefore evolution. The occurrence of clathrate hydrates on solar system surfaces could be established by remote sensing of their spectroscopic signatures. In this study, we measure and analyse ethane clathrate hydrate spectra recorded in the temperature range from 5.3 to 160 K, covering most of the temperature range of interest for solar system objects. Specific infrared band signatures are identified for the ethane encaged guest. We provide evidence that ethane clathrate hydrate outcrops can be detected by remote sensing on the surface of planetary bodies.

Automated summary

Hydrocarbons such as methane and ethane are present in various solar system objects and their interaction with water ice at low temperatures could lead to the formation of inclusion compounds like clathrate hydrates, which could be detected on planetary surfaces through remote sensing of their spectroscopic signatures.