1
|
Rivera-Valentín EG, Gough RV, Chevrier VF, Primm KM, Martínez GM, Tolbert M. Constraining the Potential Liquid Water Environment at Gale Crater, Mars. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2018; 123:1156-1167. [PMID: 33294305 PMCID: PMC7720553 DOI: 10.1002/2018je005558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) has now made continuous in situ meteorological measurements for several Martian years at Gale crater, Mars. Of importance in the search for liquid formation are REMS' measurements of ground temperature and in-air measurements of temperature and relative humidity, which is with respect to ice. Such data can constrain the surface and subsurface stability of brines. Here we use updated calibrations to REMS data and consistent relative humidity comparisons (i.e., with respect to liquid versus with respect to ice) to investigate the potential formation of surface and subsurface liquids throughout MSL's traverse. We specifically study the potential for the deliquescence of calcium perchlorate. Our data analysis suggests that surface brine formation is not favored within the first 1648 sols as there are only two times (sols 1232 and 1311) when humidity-temperature conditions were within error consistent with a liquid phase. On the other hand, modeling of the subsurface environment would support brine production in the shallow subsurface. Indeed, we find that the shallow subsurface for terrains with low thermal inertia (Γ ≲ 300 J m-2 K-1 s-1/2) may be occasionally favorable to brine formation through deliquescence. Terrains with Γ ≲ 175 J m-2 K-1 s-1/2 and albedos of ≳0.25 are the most apt to subsurface brine formation. Should brines form, they would occur around Ls 100°. Their predicted properties would not meet the Special nor Uncertain Region requirements, as such they would not be potential habitable environments to life as we know it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edgard G Rivera-Valentín
- Arecibo Observatory, Universities Space Research Association, Arecibo, PR, USA
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Raina V Gough
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Vincent F Chevrier
- Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Katherine M Primm
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - German M Martínez
- Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Margaret Tolbert
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hu R, Bloom AA, Gao P, Miller CE, Yung YL. Hypotheses for Near-Surface Exchange of Methane on Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:539-550. [PMID: 27315136 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The Curiosity rover recently detected a background of 0.7 ppb and spikes of 7 ppb of methane on Mars. This in situ measurement reorients our understanding of the martian environment and its potential for life, as the current theories do not entail any geological source or sink of methane that varies sub-annually. In particular, the 10-fold elevation during the southern winter indicates episodic sources of methane that are yet to be discovered. Here we suggest a near-surface reservoir could explain this variability. Using the temperature and humidity measurements from the rover, we find that perchlorate salts in the regolith deliquesce to form liquid solutions, and deliquescence progresses to deeper subsurface in the season of the methane spikes. We therefore formulate the following three testable hypotheses. The first scenario is that the regolith in Gale Crater adsorbs methane when dry and releases this methane to the atmosphere upon deliquescence. The adsorption energy needs to be 36 kJ mol(-1) to explain the magnitude of the methane spikes, higher than existing laboratory measurements. The second scenario is that microorganisms convert organic matter in the soil to methane when they are in liquid solutions. This scenario does not require regolith adsorption but entails extant life on Mars. The third scenario is that deep subsurface aquifers produce the bursts of methane. Continued in situ measurements of methane and water, as well as laboratory studies of adsorption and deliquescence, will test these hypotheses and inform the existence of the near-surface reservoir and its exchange with the atmosphere. KEY WORDS Mars-Methane-Astrobiology-Regolith. Astrobiology 16, 539-550.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renyu Hu
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
- 2 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
| | - A Anthony Bloom
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
| | - Peter Gao
- 2 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
| | - Charles E Miller
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
| | - Yuk L Yung
- 1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
- 2 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, California
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Beck P, Pommerol A, Schmitt B, Brissaud O. Kinetics of water adsorption on minerals and the breathing of the Martian regolith. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009je003539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
4
|
Tamppari LK, Bass D, Cantor B, Daubar I, Dickinson C, Fisher D, Fujii K, Gunnlauggson HP, Hudson TL, Kass D, Kleinböhl A, Komguem L, Lemmon MT, Mellon M, Moores J, Pankine A, Pathak J, Searls M, Seelos F, Smith MD, Smrekar S, Taylor P, Holstein-Rathlou C, Weng W, Whiteway J, Wolff M. Phoenix and MRO coordinated atmospheric measurements. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009je003415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
5
|
Zent AP, Hecht MH, Cobos DR, Wood SE, Hudson TL, Milkovich SM, DeFlores LP, Mellon MT. Initial results from the thermal and electrical conductivity probe (TECP) on Phoenix. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009je003420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
6
|
Chamberlain MA, Boynton WV. Response of Martian ground ice to orbit-induced climate change. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
7
|
|
8
|
Tokano T. Hydration state and abundance of zeolites on Mars and the water cycle. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1029/2005je002410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
9
|
Montmessin F. Origin and role of water ice clouds in the Martian water cycle as inferred from a general circulation model. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004. [DOI: 10.1029/2004je002284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
10
|
Richardson MI. Investigation of the nature and stability of the Martian seasonal water cycle with a general circulation model. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2002. [DOI: 10.1029/2001je001536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
11
|
Zent AP, Howard DJ, Quinn RC. H2O adsorption on smectites: Application to the diurnal variation of H2O in the Martian atmosphere. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001. [DOI: 10.1029/2000je001394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
12
|
Yen AS, Murray B, Rossman GR, Grunthaner FJ. Stability of hydroxylated minerals on Mars: A study on the effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1999. [DOI: 10.1029/1999je001065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
13
|
Smrekar S, Catling D, Lorenz R, Magalhães J, Moersch J, Morgan P, Murray B, Presley M, Yen A, Zent A, Blaney D. Deep Space 2: The Mars Microprobe Mission. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1999. [DOI: 10.1029/1999je001073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
14
|
Titov DV, Markiewicz WJ, Thomas N, Keller HU, Sablotny RM, Tomasko MG, Lemmon MT, Smith PH. Measurements of the atmospheric water vapor on Mars by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1999. [DOI: 10.1029/1998je900046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
15
|
Houben H, Haberle RM, Young RE, Zent AP. Modeling the Martian seasonal water cycle. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1029/97je00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
16
|
Zent AP, Quinn RC. Measurement of H2O adsorption under Mars-like conditions: Effects of adsorbent heterogeneity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1029/96je03420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
17
|
Houben H, Haberle RM, Young RE, Zent AP. Evolution of the Martian water cycle. ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) 1997; 19:1233-1236. [PMID: 11543274 DOI: 10.1016/s0273-1177(97)00274-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The current Martian water cycle is extremely asymmetric, with large amounts of vapor subliming off a permanent north polar water ice cap in northern summer, but with no apparent major source of water vapor in the southern hemisphere. Detailed simulations of this process with a three-dimensional circulation model indicate that the summertime interhemispheric exchange (Hadley cell) is very much stronger than transport by eddies in other seasons. As a result, water ice would be distributed globally were it not for the buffering action of regolith soil adsorption which limits the net flux of water vapor off the north polar cap to amounts that are insignificant even on the scale of thousands of years. It has been suggested that the polar layered deposits are the result of exchange on these long time scales, driven by changes in Martian orbital parameters. We therefore are conducting simulations to test the effect of varied orbital parameters on the Martian water cycle. We find that when the perihelion summer pole is charged with a polar water ice cap, large quantities of water are quickly transfered to the aphelion summer pole, setting up an annual cycle that resembles the present one. Thus, the adsorptivity of the Martian regolith may be in the narrow range where it can limit net transport from the aphelion but not the perihelion pole.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Houben
- Space Physics Research Institute, Sunnyvale, CA 94087-1315, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|