Mars may be undergoing climate change
Posted: Sat, Dec 8, 2001, 9:30 AM ET (1430 GMT)
The planet Mars may warm significantly in the coming centuries, scientists studying data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft reported this week. Images of the south polar ice cap of Mars taken by MGS show that pits there have grown considerably in just a few years, evidence that the carbon dioxide ice there is sublimating into gas. Over time, this process could increase the pressure of the atmosphere to one-tenth that of Earth's and warm it as well, perhaps to the point where people may one day be able to walk on the surface with just "an oxygen mask and a heavy coat", according to one researcher. Such climate changes in the past may have also allowed liquid water to exist on the surface. The research was published in the current issue of the journal Science.
The planet Mars may warm significantly in the coming centuries, scientists studying data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft reported this week. Images of the south polar ice cap of Mars taken by MGS show that pits there have grown considerably in just a few years, evidence that the carbon dioxide ice there is sublimating into gas. Over time, this process could increase the pressure of the atmosphere to one-tenth that of Earth's and warm it as well, perhaps to the point where people may one day be able to walk on the surface with just "an oxygen mask and a heavy coat", according to one researcher. Such climate changes in the past may have also allowed liquid water to exist on the surface. The research was published in the current issue of the journal Science.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 18
Space Force needs 10,000 more Guardians, officials tell Senate
Huntsville Times — 5:40 am ET (1040 GMT) SpaceX, Not Tesla, Will Make Musk A Trillionaire
Forbes.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) Space Force needs to double in size, top enlisted leader says
FederalNewsRadio.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) GMV and the Spanish Air and Space Force Sign Agreement to Strengthen National Space Surveillance Capabilities
Space and Defense — 5:36 am ET (1036 GMT) Virgin Galactic Announces Date of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call
Virgin Galactic — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) |
