Changing albedo may explain Martian global warming
Posted: Mon, Apr 9, 2007, 2:44 PM ET (1844 GMT)
An increase in temperatures measured in the atmosphere of Mars may be explained by changes in the albedo, or reflectivity, of the planet's surface. In a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Nature, researchers noticed a correlation between increasing atmospheric temperatures measured since the 1970s and a decrease in the planet's albedo. The albedo decrease, apparently caused as more areas of darker bedrock have been exposed, causes the planet to absorb more sunlight and warm the atmosphere. The increased temperatures can cause an increase in the number and intensity of dust devils, which helps scour dust from the surface, revealing more areas of darker bedrock and creating a positive feedback effect. While this may explain short-term changes in the Martian climate, researchers cautioned that other factors may influence Martian climate over longer time spans.
An increase in temperatures measured in the atmosphere of Mars may be explained by changes in the albedo, or reflectivity, of the planet's surface. In a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Nature, researchers noticed a correlation between increasing atmospheric temperatures measured since the 1970s and a decrease in the planet's albedo. The albedo decrease, apparently caused as more areas of darker bedrock have been exposed, causes the planet to absorb more sunlight and warm the atmosphere. The increased temperatures can cause an increase in the number and intensity of dust devils, which helps scour dust from the surface, revealing more areas of darker bedrock and creating a positive feedback effect. While this may explain short-term changes in the Martian climate, researchers cautioned that other factors may influence Martian climate over longer time spans.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, September 15
Elon Musk's Starlink reports service outage, thousands of users affected
Reuters — 1:23 am ET (0523 GMT) What does the loss of U.S. Space Command mean to Colorado Springs?
Denver Post — 1:21 am ET (0521 GMT) SpaceX Launches Northrop Grumman Cargo Ship To ISS
Aviation Week — 1:18 am ET (0518 GMT) SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Sunday
WESH-TV Orlando — 1:18 am ET (0518 GMT) Apollo 13 made Jim Lovell a legend generations after the space race
The Hill — 1:09 am ET (0509 GMT) |
