Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology
International audience The surface of Mars, unshielded by thick atmosphere or global magnetic field, is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. This ionising radiation field is deleterious to the survival of dormant cells or spores and the persistence of molecular biomarkers in the subsurface, a...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Other Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
HAL CCSD
2007
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hal.science/hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631/document https://hal.science/hal-00297631/file/bg-4-545-2007.pdf |
id |
ftccsdartic:oai:HAL:hal-00297631v1 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftccsdartic:oai:HAL:hal-00297631v1 2024-02-04T10:01:09+01:00 Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology Dartnell, L. R. Desorgher, L. Ward, J. M. Coates, A. J. CoMPLEX (Centre for Mathematics & Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology) Physikalisches Institut Bern Universität Bern / University of Bern (UNIBE) Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) University College of London London (UCL) 2007-07-30 https://hal.science/hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631/document https://hal.science/hal-00297631/file/bg-4-545-2007.pdf en eng HAL CCSD European Geosciences Union hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631/document https://hal.science/hal-00297631/file/bg-4-545-2007.pdf info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess ISSN: 1726-4170 EISSN: 1726-4189 Biogeosciences https://hal.science/hal-00297631 Biogeosciences, 2007, 4 (4), pp.545-558 [PHYS.ASTR.CO]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO] [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph] [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces environment [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean Atmosphere [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences info:eu-repo/semantics/article Journal articles 2007 ftccsdartic 2024-01-06T23:35:41Z International audience The surface of Mars, unshielded by thick atmosphere or global magnetic field, is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. This ionising radiation field is deleterious to the survival of dormant cells or spores and the persistence of molecular biomarkers in the subsurface, and so its characterisation is of prime astrobiological interest. Here, we present modelling results of the absorbed radiation dose as a function of depth through the Martian subsurface, suitable for calculation of biomarker persistence. A second major implementation of this dose accumulation rate data is in application of the optically stimulated luminescence technique for dating Martian sediments. We present calculations of the dose-depth profile in the Martian subsurface for various scenarios: variations of surface composition (dry regolith, ice, layered permafrost), solar minimum and maximum conditions, locations of different elevation (Olympus Mons, Hellas basin, datum altitude), and increasing atmospheric thickness over geological history. We also model the changing composition of the subsurface radiation field with depth compared between Martian locations with different shielding material, determine the relative dose contributions from primaries of different energies, and discuss particle deflection by the crustal magnetic fields. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Archive ouverte HAL (Hyper Article en Ligne, CCSD - Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) Olympus ENVELOPE(156.767,156.767,-80.217,-80.217) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Archive ouverte HAL (Hyper Article en Ligne, CCSD - Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) |
op_collection_id |
ftccsdartic |
language |
English |
topic |
[PHYS.ASTR.CO]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO] [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph] [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces environment [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean Atmosphere [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences |
spellingShingle |
[PHYS.ASTR.CO]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO] [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph] [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces environment [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean Atmosphere [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences Dartnell, L. R. Desorgher, L. Ward, J. M. Coates, A. J. Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
topic_facet |
[PHYS.ASTR.CO]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO] [SDU.ASTR]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph] [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces environment [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean Atmosphere [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences |
description |
International audience The surface of Mars, unshielded by thick atmosphere or global magnetic field, is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. This ionising radiation field is deleterious to the survival of dormant cells or spores and the persistence of molecular biomarkers in the subsurface, and so its characterisation is of prime astrobiological interest. Here, we present modelling results of the absorbed radiation dose as a function of depth through the Martian subsurface, suitable for calculation of biomarker persistence. A second major implementation of this dose accumulation rate data is in application of the optically stimulated luminescence technique for dating Martian sediments. We present calculations of the dose-depth profile in the Martian subsurface for various scenarios: variations of surface composition (dry regolith, ice, layered permafrost), solar minimum and maximum conditions, locations of different elevation (Olympus Mons, Hellas basin, datum altitude), and increasing atmospheric thickness over geological history. We also model the changing composition of the subsurface radiation field with depth compared between Martian locations with different shielding material, determine the relative dose contributions from primaries of different energies, and discuss particle deflection by the crustal magnetic fields. |
author2 |
CoMPLEX (Centre for Mathematics & Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology) Physikalisches Institut Bern Universität Bern / University of Bern (UNIBE) Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) University College of London London (UCL) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dartnell, L. R. Desorgher, L. Ward, J. M. Coates, A. J. |
author_facet |
Dartnell, L. R. Desorgher, L. Ward, J. M. Coates, A. J. |
author_sort |
Dartnell, L. R. |
title |
Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
title_short |
Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
title_full |
Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
title_fullStr |
Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
title_full_unstemmed |
Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
title_sort |
martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology |
publisher |
HAL CCSD |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
https://hal.science/hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631/document https://hal.science/hal-00297631/file/bg-4-545-2007.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(156.767,156.767,-80.217,-80.217) |
geographic |
Olympus |
geographic_facet |
Olympus |
genre |
Ice permafrost |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost |
op_source |
ISSN: 1726-4170 EISSN: 1726-4189 Biogeosciences https://hal.science/hal-00297631 Biogeosciences, 2007, 4 (4), pp.545-558 |
op_relation |
hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631 https://hal.science/hal-00297631/document https://hal.science/hal-00297631/file/bg-4-545-2007.pdf |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
_version_ |
1789966837530755072 |