Mars dry ice deposit could cause thicker, dustier atmosphere
Posted: Fri, Apr 22, 2011, 7:24 AM ET (1124 GMT)
A buried deposit of dry ice near Mars's south pole suggests to scientists that the planet's atmosphere may vary significantly as its tilt changes. In a paper published in the journal Science this week, planetary scientists reported the discovery of a reservoir of frozen carbon dioxide with about the same volume of Lake Superior near the planet's south pole; that deposit is about 30 times the size of the known cap of dry ice at the pole. Scientists believe that, as the planet's tilt changes over time, that dry ice can sublimate and increase the planet's atmospheric pressure by 75 percent, causing stronger dust storms and expanding the areas of the planet's surface that could support liquid water. Scientists identified the carbon dioxide deposit in data from a radar instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
A buried deposit of dry ice near Mars's south pole suggests to scientists that the planet's atmosphere may vary significantly as its tilt changes. In a paper published in the journal Science this week, planetary scientists reported the discovery of a reservoir of frozen carbon dioxide with about the same volume of Lake Superior near the planet's south pole; that deposit is about 30 times the size of the known cap of dry ice at the pole. Scientists believe that, as the planet's tilt changes over time, that dry ice can sublimate and increase the planet's atmospheric pressure by 75 percent, causing stronger dust storms and expanding the areas of the planet's surface that could support liquid water. Scientists identified the carbon dioxide deposit in data from a radar instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, February 26
Norway to Join Europe Starlink Rival Shortly, Minister Says
Bloomberg News — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) Satellite Operator Eutelsat Seeks €1.5 Billion to Refinance Debt
Bloomberg News — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) Space Command offers retention, relocation bonuses for civilians to move from Colo. Springs to Alabama
KOAA-TV Colorado Springs — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) UT To Enhance U.S. Space Force Detection, Response to Security Threats
Univ. of Texas Austin — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) Lab at UT is first in U.S. to work with Space Force on threats
San Antonio Express-News — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) |
