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2003•Lunar and Planetary Science ConferenceRequires access

Volatiles on Mars

Y. Zhang

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Abstract

Compared to Earth’s atmosphere, Mars has a thin CO2-rich atmosphere with a surface pressure of about 700 Pa. When normalized to planetary mass (mass of Mars is 10.7% of that of Earth), the abundance of volatiles on Mars is about 0.07% to 6% of that on Earth (when CO2 in terrestrial carbonates is included). Is the depletion of volatiles on Mars a primary feature (because less volatiles accreted on Mars than on Earth), or a secondary feature (due to lower degree of degassing or due to gas escape to outer space)? In this contribution, I outline a simple model for volatile budgets of Mars, and implications for water on Mars.

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What this paper is about

Compared to Earth’s atmosphere, Mars has a thin CO2-rich atmosphere with a surface pressure of about 700 Pa. When normalized to planetary mass (mass of Mars is 10.7% of that of Earth), the abundance of volatiles on Mars is about 0.07% to 6% of that on Earth (when CO2 in terrestrial carbonates is included). Is the depletion of volatiles on Mars a primary feature (because less volatiles accreted on Mars than on Earth), or a secondary feature (due to lower degree of degassing or due to gas escape to outer space)? In this contribution, I outline a simple model for volatile budgets of Mars, and implications for water on Mars.

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Available abstract

Compared to Earth’s atmosphere, Mars has a thin CO2-rich atmosphere with a surface pressure of about 700 Pa. When normalized to planetary mass (mass of Mars is 10.7% of that of Earth), the abundance of volatiles on Mars is about 0.07% to 6% of that on Earth (when CO2 in terrestrial carbonates is included). Is the depletion of volatiles on Mars a primary feature (because less volatiles accreted on Mars than on Earth), or a secondary feature (due to lower degree of degassing or due to gas escape to outer space)? In this contribution, I outline a simple model for volatile budgets of Mars, and implications for water on Mars.

Key concepts: Mars Exploration Program, Astrobiology, Atmosphere of Mars, Atmosphere (unit), Earth (classical element), Geology, Exploration of Mars, Atmospheric sciences

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