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The State and Future of Mars Polar Science and Exploration
The State and Future of Mars Polar Science and Exploration
- Source :
- Icarus. 144:210-242
- Publication Year :
- 2000
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2000.
-
Abstract
- As the planet's principal cold traps, the martian polar regions have accumulated extensive mantles of ice and dust that cover individual areas of approximately 10(6) km2 and total as much as 3-4 km thick. From the scarcity of superposed craters on their surface, these layered deposits are thought to be comparatively young--preserving a record of the seasonal and climatic cycling of atmospheric CO2, H2O, and dust over the past approximately 10(5)-10(8) years. For this reason, the martian polar deposits may serve as a Rosetta Stone for understanding the geologic and climatic history of the planet--documenting variations in insolation (due to quasiperiodic oscillations in the planet's obliquity and orbital elements), volatile mass balance, atmospheric composition, dust storm activity, volcanic eruptions, large impacts, catastrophic floods, solar luminosity, supernovae, and perhaps even a record of microbial life. Beyond their scientific value, the polar regions may soon prove important for another reason--providing a valuable and accessible reservoir of water to support the long-term human exploration of Mars. In this paper we assess the current state of Mars polar research, identify the key questions that motivate the exploration of the polar regions, discuss the extent to which current missions will address these questions, and speculate about what additional capabilities and investigations may be required to address the issues that remain outstanding.
- Subjects :
- Extraterrestrial Environment
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Climate
Solar luminosity
Mars
01 natural sciences
Astrobiology
Atmosphere
Impact crater
Planet
Dust storm
Exobiology
0103 physical sciences
010303 astronomy & astrophysics
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Martian
Ice
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Mars Exploration Program
Atmosphere of Mars
Carbon Dioxide
Space Flight
Cold Climate
13. Climate action
Space and Planetary Science
Geology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00191035
- Volume :
- 144
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Icarus
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0db415316ebe716549bcbcee4e50b644
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1006/icar.1999.6290