Atmospheric collapse and transport of carbon dioxide into the subsurface on early Mars | Zendy

KurahashiNakamura Takasumi | Zendy; Tajika Eiichi | Zendy

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Atmospheric collapse and transport of carbon dioxide into the subsurface on early Mars

Author(s) -

KurahashiNakamura Takasumi,

Tajika Eiichi

Publication year - 2006

Publication title -

geophysical research letters

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007

H-Index - 273

eISSN - 1944-8007

pISSN - 0094-8276

DOI - 10.1029/2006gl027170

Subject(s) - mars exploration program , martian , astrobiology , carbon dioxide , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of mars , martian surface , geology , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , earth science , carbonate , clathrate hydrate , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , climate change , materials science , hydrate , chemistry , meteorology , oceanography , physics , organic chemistry , metallurgy

The present climate of Mars is extremely cold and dry, and is characterized by a very thin CO 2 atmosphere. On the other hand, geological evidence suggests that the Martian climate in the past might have been warm and wet, suggesting that the atmospheric CO 2 pressure would have been several bars higher. However, the fate of the abundant CO 2 is still unclear. Here we propose a possible scenario for the evolution of CO 2 on Mars. Numerical results suggest that CO 2 in the early atmosphere would have reduced by a runaway condensation to form large CO 2 ice caps. Then, the large CO 2 ice caps should have shrunk by basal melting and most of CO 2 has percolated into subsurface of the ice caps. The CO 2 would have formed clathrate hydrate and carbonate minerals, and may still reside in the subsurface of Mars. This could explain the apparent shortage of CO 2 on the present Martian surface.

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