Curiosity provides evidence of loss of early Martian atmosphere
Posted: Tue, Jul 23, 2013, 6:53 AM ET (1053 GMT)
Data collected by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity have provided scientists with new evidence that Mars once had a thicker atmosphere that it lost relatively early in its history. A pair of papers published in the latest issue of the journal Science last week analyze ratios of carbon and oxygen isotopes in the carbon dioxide in the current Martian atmosphere. Heavier isotopes are present in the atmosphere in greater proportions than in the sun and elsewhere in the solar systems, suggesting that more lighter isotopes escaped. The results confirm previous studies that suggested the planet once had a thicker atmosphere, one that could support liquid water on the planet's surface, but that atmosphere was lost to space within the planet's first billion years.
Data collected by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity have provided scientists with new evidence that Mars once had a thicker atmosphere that it lost relatively early in its history. A pair of papers published in the latest issue of the journal Science last week analyze ratios of carbon and oxygen isotopes in the carbon dioxide in the current Martian atmosphere. Heavier isotopes are present in the atmosphere in greater proportions than in the sun and elsewhere in the solar systems, suggesting that more lighter isotopes escaped. The results confirm previous studies that suggested the planet once had a thicker atmosphere, one that could support liquid water on the planet's surface, but that atmosphere was lost to space within the planet's first billion years.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
China launches first Long March 12A, but booster landing fails
Posted: Sun, Dec 28 9:50 AM ET (1450 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, December 29
Iran Says It Launched 3 Satellites Into Space From Russia
AFP — 5:08 am ET (1008 GMT) Starlink withdraws satellite services from Papua New Guinea
Radio New Zealand — 5:07 am ET (1007 GMT) SpaceX Rocket Launch of Italian Satellite Scrubbed Again
Noozhawk — 5:04 am ET (1004 GMT) If we're going to vacation on the Moon, we need to make sure no-one is left behind
BBC — 5:03 am ET (1003 GMT) New Outer Hebrides spaceport won't launch rockets on a Sunday
The Sunday Post — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) |
