Characterization of the particle radiation environment at three potential landing sites on Mars using ESA's MEREM models

► First-time use of ESA's Mars Energetic Radiation Environment Models/MEREM to estimate the radiation hazard at three prospective landing sites. ► These sites display significantly different hydrological conditions/soil compositions. The surface radiation environments predicted are shown to vary with epoch and landing site. ► The Effective Dose (ED) does not depend on location but the Ambient Dose Equivalent (ADE) does. ► MEREM's dose predictions are in general agreement with those of NASA's Heavy Ion-Nucleon Transport Code for Space Radiation/HZETRN. ► The Martian atmosphere provides sufficient shielding to maintain dose levels below currently accepted exposure limits over short (30 days) surface stays.