Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars
Carbon dioxide is an essential atmospheric component in martian climate models that attempt to reconcile a faint young sun with planetwide evidence of liquid water in the Noachian and Early Hesperian. In this study, we use mineral and contextual sedimentary environmental data measured by the Mars Sc...
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Online Access: | https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/3/PNAS-2017-Bristow-2166-70.pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/2/pnas.201616649SI.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859 |
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ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:74131 2023-05-15T18:45:43+02:00 Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars Bristow, Thomas F. Haberle, Robert M. Blake, David F. Des Marais, David J. Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. Fairén, Alberto G. Grotzinger, John P. Stack, Kathryn M. Mischna, Michael A. Rampe, Elizabeth B. Siebach, Kirsten L. Sutter, Brad Vaniman, David T. Vasavada, Ashwin R. 2017-02-28 application/pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/3/PNAS-2017-Bristow-2166-70.pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/2/pnas.201616649SI.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859 en eng National Academy of Sciences https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/3/PNAS-2017-Bristow-2166-70.pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/2/pnas.201616649SI.pdf Bristow, Thomas F. and Haberle, Robert M. and Blake, David F. and Des Marais, David J. and Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. and Fairén, Alberto G. and Grotzinger, John P. and Stack, Kathryn M. and Mischna, Michael A. and Rampe, Elizabeth B. and Siebach, Kirsten L. and Sutter, Brad and Vaniman, David T. and Vasavada, Ashwin R. (2017) Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114 (9). pp. 2166-2170. ISSN 0027-8424. PMCID PMC5338541. doi:10.1073/pnas.1616649114. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859> other Article PeerReviewed 2017 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1616649114 2022-04-07T17:48:20Z Carbon dioxide is an essential atmospheric component in martian climate models that attempt to reconcile a faint young sun with planetwide evidence of liquid water in the Noachian and Early Hesperian. In this study, we use mineral and contextual sedimentary environmental data measured by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover Curiosity to estimate the atmospheric partial pressure of CO_2 (P_(CO2)) coinciding with a long-lived lake system in Gale Crater at ∼3.5 Ga. A reaction–transport model that simulates mineralogy observed within the Sheepbed member at Yellowknife Bay (YKB), by coupling mineral equilibria with carbonate precipitation kinetics and rates of sedimentation, indicates atmospheric P_(CO2) levels in the 10s mbar range. At such low P_(CO2) levels, existing climate models are unable to warm Hesperian Mars anywhere near the freezing point of water, and other gases are required to raise atmospheric pressure to prevent lake waters from being lost to the atmosphere. Thus, either lacustrine features of Gale formed in a cold environment by a mechanism yet to be determined, or the climate models still lack an essential component that would serve to elevate surface temperatures, at least locally, on Hesperian Mars. Our results also impose restrictions on the potential role of atmospheric CO_2 in inferred warmer conditions and valley network formation of the late Noachian. Article in Journal/Newspaper Yellowknife Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay ENVELOPE(-114.336,-114.336,62.367,62.367) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114 9 2166 2170 |
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Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
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ftcaltechauth |
language |
English |
description |
Carbon dioxide is an essential atmospheric component in martian climate models that attempt to reconcile a faint young sun with planetwide evidence of liquid water in the Noachian and Early Hesperian. In this study, we use mineral and contextual sedimentary environmental data measured by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover Curiosity to estimate the atmospheric partial pressure of CO_2 (P_(CO2)) coinciding with a long-lived lake system in Gale Crater at ∼3.5 Ga. A reaction–transport model that simulates mineralogy observed within the Sheepbed member at Yellowknife Bay (YKB), by coupling mineral equilibria with carbonate precipitation kinetics and rates of sedimentation, indicates atmospheric P_(CO2) levels in the 10s mbar range. At such low P_(CO2) levels, existing climate models are unable to warm Hesperian Mars anywhere near the freezing point of water, and other gases are required to raise atmospheric pressure to prevent lake waters from being lost to the atmosphere. Thus, either lacustrine features of Gale formed in a cold environment by a mechanism yet to be determined, or the climate models still lack an essential component that would serve to elevate surface temperatures, at least locally, on Hesperian Mars. Our results also impose restrictions on the potential role of atmospheric CO_2 in inferred warmer conditions and valley network formation of the late Noachian. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bristow, Thomas F. Haberle, Robert M. Blake, David F. Des Marais, David J. Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. Fairén, Alberto G. Grotzinger, John P. Stack, Kathryn M. Mischna, Michael A. Rampe, Elizabeth B. Siebach, Kirsten L. Sutter, Brad Vaniman, David T. Vasavada, Ashwin R. |
spellingShingle |
Bristow, Thomas F. Haberle, Robert M. Blake, David F. Des Marais, David J. Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. Fairén, Alberto G. Grotzinger, John P. Stack, Kathryn M. Mischna, Michael A. Rampe, Elizabeth B. Siebach, Kirsten L. Sutter, Brad Vaniman, David T. Vasavada, Ashwin R. Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars |
author_facet |
Bristow, Thomas F. Haberle, Robert M. Blake, David F. Des Marais, David J. Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. Fairén, Alberto G. Grotzinger, John P. Stack, Kathryn M. Mischna, Michael A. Rampe, Elizabeth B. Siebach, Kirsten L. Sutter, Brad Vaniman, David T. Vasavada, Ashwin R. |
author_sort |
Bristow, Thomas F. |
title |
Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars |
title_short |
Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars |
title_full |
Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars |
title_fullStr |
Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars |
title_sort |
low hesperian p_(co2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at gale crater, mars |
publisher |
National Academy of Sciences |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/3/PNAS-2017-Bristow-2166-70.pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/2/pnas.201616649SI.pdf https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-114.336,-114.336,62.367,62.367) |
geographic |
Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay |
geographic_facet |
Yellowknife Yellowknife Bay |
genre |
Yellowknife |
genre_facet |
Yellowknife |
op_relation |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/3/PNAS-2017-Bristow-2166-70.pdf https://authors.library.caltech.edu/74131/2/pnas.201616649SI.pdf Bristow, Thomas F. and Haberle, Robert M. and Blake, David F. and Des Marais, David J. and Eigenbrode, Jennifer L. and Fairén, Alberto G. and Grotzinger, John P. and Stack, Kathryn M. and Mischna, Michael A. and Rampe, Elizabeth B. and Siebach, Kirsten L. and Sutter, Brad and Vaniman, David T. and Vasavada, Ashwin R. (2017) Low Hesperian P_(CO2) constrained from in situ mineralogical analysis at Gale Crater, Mars. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114 (9). pp. 2166-2170. ISSN 0027-8424. PMCID PMC5338541. doi:10.1073/pnas.1616649114. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20170207-103345859> |
op_rights |
other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1616649114 |
container_title |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
container_volume |
114 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
2166 |
op_container_end_page |
2170 |
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1766236848666968064 |