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Tracing the fate of carbon and the atmospheric evolution of Mars

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  • Renyu Hu

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
    California Institute of Technology)

  • David M. Kass

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Bethany L. Ehlmann

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
    California Institute of Technology)

  • Yuk L. Yung

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
    California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The climate of Mars likely evolved from a warmer, wetter early state to the cold, arid current state. However, no solutions for this evolution have previously been found to satisfy the observed geological features and isotopic measurements of the atmosphere. Here we show that a family of solutions exist, invoking no missing reservoirs or loss processes. Escape of carbon via CO photodissociation and sputtering enriches heavy carbon (13C) in the Martian atmosphere, partially compensated by moderate carbonate precipitation. The current atmospheric 13C/12C and rock and soil carbonate measurements indicate an early atmosphere with a surface pressure

Suggested Citation

  • Renyu Hu & David M. Kass & Bethany L. Ehlmann & Yuk L. Yung, 2015. "Tracing the fate of carbon and the atmospheric evolution of Mars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10003
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10003
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