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 ionizing radiation field is deleterious to the survival of dormant cells or spores and the persistence of molecular biomarkers in the subsurface, a...
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ftinsu:oai:HAL:hal-00297871v1 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) 2007-02-09 https://hal.science/hal-00297871 https://hal.science/hal-00297871/document https://hal.science/hal-00297871/file/bgd-4-455-2007.pdf en eng HAL CCSD European Geosciences Union hal-00297871 https://hal.science/hal-00297871 https://hal.science/hal-00297871/document https://hal.science/hal-00297871/file/bgd-4-455-2007.pdf info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess ISSN: 1810-6277 EISSN: 1810-6285 Biogeosciences Discussions https://hal.science/hal-00297871 Biogeosciences Discussions, 2007, 4 (1), pp.455-492 [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 ftinsu 2024-01-10T17:26:25Z International audience The surface of Mars, unshielded by thick atmosphere or global magnetic field, is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. This ionizing 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. Previous research has attempted to address the question of biomarker persistence by inappropriately using dose profiles weighted specifically for cellular survival. Here, we present modelling results of the unmodified physically absorbed radiation dose as a function of depth through the Martian subsurface. 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 from galactic cosmic rays 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 briefly treat particle deflection by the crustal magnetic fields. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Institut national des sciences de l'Univers: HAL-INSU Olympus ENVELOPE(156.767,156.767,-80.217,-80.217) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Institut national des sciences de l'Univers: HAL-INSU |
op_collection_id |
ftinsu |
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 ionizing 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. Previous research has attempted to address the question of biomarker persistence by inappropriately using dose profiles weighted specifically for cellular survival. Here, we present modelling results of the unmodified physically absorbed radiation dose as a function of depth through the Martian subsurface. 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 from galactic cosmic rays 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 briefly treat 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-00297871 https://hal.science/hal-00297871/document https://hal.science/hal-00297871/file/bgd-4-455-2007.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: 1810-6277 EISSN: 1810-6285 Biogeosciences Discussions https://hal.science/hal-00297871 Biogeosciences Discussions, 2007, 4 (1), pp.455-492 |
op_relation |
hal-00297871 https://hal.science/hal-00297871 https://hal.science/hal-00297871/document https://hal.science/hal-00297871/file/bgd-4-455-2007.pdf |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess |
_version_ |
1789966840350375936 |