Water on MarsWater on Mars

Haren PatelHaren Patel

Things you might learnThings you might learn

• When/where the water wasWhen/where the water was

• Evidence for itEvidence for it

• Ramifications of itRamifications of it

• CountersCounters

• What I thinkWhat I think

TimelineTimeline

http://gnews.wustl.edu/elements/e2_3/e2_3_art_mcsween.pdf

Water in the Distant Water in the Distant PastPast

• Distant past for this purpose is Distant past for this purpose is greater than 3.5 billion years agogreater than 3.5 billion years ago

• It is hypothesized that up to 1/3 of It is hypothesized that up to 1/3 of Mars was covered by an oceanMars was covered by an ocean

• These oceans would have had These oceans would have had

many inlet channels of rivers many inlet channels of rivers

and lakes feeding into the oceanand lakes feeding into the ocean

EvidenceEvidence

• Valleys eroded away by river flow Valleys eroded away by river flow appear in the northern hemisphereappear in the northern hemisphere

•Areas in the northern hemisphere have patterns consistent with shorelines

• Impact studies further confirms the existence of an ocean due to few craters in areas where oceans are hypothesized to have existed

The Not so distant pastThe Not so distant past

• Since 3.5 billion years agoSince 3.5 billion years ago

• Almost no liquid waterAlmost no liquid water

• Most current water is in the form of Most current water is in the form of ice and vaporice and vapor

• Although none of the water is in the Although none of the water is in the liquid form, there is a significant liquid form, there is a significant amount that has shaped the amount that has shaped the geographygeography

• Ice is stable in the latitudes greater Ice is stable in the latitudes greater than ± 50-60°than ± 50-60°

• As ice cools and heats, a polygonal As ice cools and heats, a polygonal fracture pattern forms over millions of fracture pattern forms over millions of years of repeated expansion/contractionyears of repeated expansion/contraction

• Ice layers allow solute particles to be Ice layers allow solute particles to be frozen in placefrozen in place

• As the ice sublimates the particles are As the ice sublimates the particles are exposed which give distinct erosion exposed which give distinct erosion patterns patterns

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~meech/a740/2004/fall/papers/jakosky_2004.pdf

• The Milankovitch cycles that occur on Mars The Milankovitch cycles that occur on Mars are much more extreme, varying the tilt from are much more extreme, varying the tilt from 10-40°10-40°

• The large changes in tilt lead to large The large changes in tilt lead to large variations in the “seasons” that affect the variations in the “seasons” that affect the stability of water in different regions of the stability of water in different regions of the planetplanet

• The cycles of heating and cooling is what led The cycles of heating and cooling is what led to the ability of the honeycombing featuresto the ability of the honeycombing features

• This cycling would allow ice from the polar This cycling would allow ice from the polar regions to sublimate and move towards the regions to sublimate and move towards the equator before re-adsorbing into the soilequator before re-adsorbing into the soil

• As the water went deeper into the soil, the As the water went deeper into the soil, the less soluble particles in the water would be less soluble particles in the water would be left closer to the surface and more soluble left closer to the surface and more soluble particles would travel farther downparticles would travel farther down

The very recentThe very recent

• There is still measureable amounts of There is still measureable amounts of water on Marswater on Mars

• The polar regions are covered by ice capsThe polar regions are covered by ice caps• The average amount of water vapor in a The average amount of water vapor in a

vertical column of the Martian vertical column of the Martian atmosphere is about 20 precipitable atmosphere is about 20 precipitable micronsmicrons

• Small amounts of ice and frost is present Small amounts of ice and frost is present just under the surfacejust under the surface

• 1% of the Martian soil is water by mass1% of the Martian soil is water by mass

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~meech/a740/2004/fall/papers/jakosky_2004.pdf

http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~meech/a740/2004/fall/papers/jakosky_2004.pdf

The very recentThe very recent

• Presence of many “gullies” in canyon and Presence of many “gullies” in canyon and crater wallscrater walls

• Erosion patterns formed from seeping of Erosion patterns formed from seeping of water out of the Martian soilwater out of the Martian soil

• Some say seeping and gully formation Some say seeping and gully formation stopped about 10 million years ago while stopped about 10 million years ago while others argue that many are still forming others argue that many are still forming and many have appeared within the last and many have appeared within the last 10 years10 years

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast05jan_1/

http://gnews.wustl.edu/elements/e2_3/e2_3_art_mcsween.pdf

So what happened to all the So what happened to all the water?water?

• The current pressure and temperature of The current pressure and temperature of Mars does not allow for water to be Mars does not allow for water to be stable as a liquidstable as a liquid

• The pressure is only 6 millibar at the The pressure is only 6 millibar at the surface and the average temperature at surface and the average temperature at the equator is 220Kthe equator is 220K

• The conditions are slightly below the The conditions are slightly below the triple point of water so water only exists triple point of water so water only exists as a solid or vapor as a solid or vapor

Oceans?Oceans?

• Current conditions may not favor liquid water Current conditions may not favor liquid water but in the distant past, greater than 3.5 billion but in the distant past, greater than 3.5 billion years ago, conditions were very differentyears ago, conditions were very different

• Although Mars was closer to the Sun than it is Although Mars was closer to the Sun than it is today, the faint sun problem that Earth would today, the faint sun problem that Earth would have experienced would have still not allowed have experienced would have still not allowed the temperature to be high enoughthe temperature to be high enough

• It is thought that the greenhouse effect is what It is thought that the greenhouse effect is what warmed the planet up enough just as it did on warmed the planet up enough just as it did on Earth in the early years of the solar systemEarth in the early years of the solar system

• Carbon dioxide saturates at levels not Carbon dioxide saturates at levels not high enough to cause enough of a high enough to cause enough of a greenhouse effect to reach greenhouse effect to reach temperatures high enough for liquid temperatures high enough for liquid water howeverwater however

• A combination of carbon dioxide clouds A combination of carbon dioxide clouds and methane would have caused and methane would have caused enough additional warming to allow for enough additional warming to allow for liquid waterliquid water

So where did the methane So where did the methane come from?come from?

• Some abiotic reactions like the Some abiotic reactions like the Serpentine reaction could have Serpentine reaction could have generated some of the methane generated some of the methane neededneeded

• The amount of methane proposed by The amount of methane proposed by models though leads to the most models though leads to the most likely source of the methane as likely source of the methane as ancient methanogensancient methanogens

http://www.pggrc.co.nz/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989712?refCatId=13

Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features include hematite-rich concretions and crystal-mold vugs. We interpret the rocks to be a mixture of chemical and siliciclastic sediments with a complex diagenetic history. The environmental conditions that they record include episodic inundation by shallow surface water, evaporation, and desiccation. The geologic record at Meridiani Planum suggests that conditions were suitable for biological activity for a period of time in martian history.

In Situ Evidence for an Ancient Aqueous Environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars

S. W. Squyres1,, J. P. Grotzinger2, R. E. Arvidson3,

J. F. Bell III1, W. Calvin4,

P. R. Christensen5, B. C. Clark6, J. A. Crisp7,

W. H. Farrand8, K. E. Herkenhoff9,

J. R. Johnson9, G. Klingelhöfer10,

A. H. Knoll11, S. M. McLennan12,

H. Y. McSween Jr.13, R. V. Morris14, J. W. Rice Jr.5,

R. Rieder15 and L. A. Soderblom9

The OMEGA/Mars Express hyperspectral imager identified hydrated sulfates on light-toned layered terrains on Mars. Outcrops in Valles Marineris, Margaritifer Sinus, and Terra Meridiani show evidence for kieserite, gypsum, and polyhydrated sulfates. This identification has its basis in vibrational absorptions between 1.3 and 2.5 micrometers. These minerals constitute direct records of the past aqueous activity on Mars.

Sulfates in Martian Layered Terrains: The OMEGA/Mars Express View

Aline Gendrin1,, Nicolas Mangold2,

Jean-Pierre Bibring1, Yves Langevin1, Brigitte Gondet1, François Poulet1,

Guillaume Bonello1, Cathy Quantin3, John Mustard4,

Ray Arvidson5 and Stéphane LeMouélic6

So what changed?So what changed?

• No one knows for sure what happened to No one knows for sure what happened to all of the carbon dioxide but there are all of the carbon dioxide but there are three events that are most likely to have three events that are most likely to have occurredoccurred– Some was released into space by large impactsSome was released into space by large impacts– Some was stripped from the atmosphere by Some was stripped from the atmosphere by

solar winds which were more intense 4 billion solar winds which were more intense 4 billion years agoyears ago

– It reacted with surface minerals forming It reacted with surface minerals forming carbonatescarbonateshttp://www.altocartoons.com/m/marvin-the-martian/index.html

CountersCounters

• Lava channelsLava channels

CountersCounters

• Pyroxene and feldsparsPyroxene and feldspars– Chemicals like pyroxene and feldspars Chemicals like pyroxene and feldspars

react quite rapidly with water, depleting react quite rapidly with water, depleting them from the environmentthem from the environment

– Both chemicals are present in large Both chemicals are present in large quantities and their reacted forms have quantities and their reacted forms have not been found yetnot been found yet

CountersCounters

• Lack of carbonates in soilLack of carbonates in soil– Carbon dioxide readily dissolves in water Carbon dioxide readily dissolves in water

forming carbonatesforming carbonates– As the water evaporated, the carbonates and As the water evaporated, the carbonates and

salts should have been deposited on the salts should have been deposited on the surface, none have been found yetsurface, none have been found yet

– Carbon dioxide doesn’t readily dissolve in Carbon dioxide doesn’t readily dissolve in acidic water however and so carbonates would acidic water however and so carbonates would not be found, this is running explanation with not be found, this is running explanation with evidence due to the finding of sulfur, evidence due to the finding of sulfur, phosphate, and chloride in the soilphosphate, and chloride in the soil

ConclusionsConclusions

• The likelihood of there being large The likelihood of there being large amounts of liquid water on Mars in the amounts of liquid water on Mars in the past is very highpast is very high

• The increased greenhouse effect in the The increased greenhouse effect in the past due to carbon dioxide and methane past due to carbon dioxide and methane would have provided sufficient heating to would have provided sufficient heating to the planetthe planet

• The presence of water and methane in The presence of water and methane in large quantities leads to the question of large quantities leads to the question of whether there ever was life whether there ever was life

My 2¢My 2¢

• I think there was a significant amount I think there was a significant amount of liquid water in the pastof liquid water in the past

• The presence of methane was probably The presence of methane was probably from methanogens living in the waterfrom methanogens living in the water

• Much of the methane that was present Much of the methane that was present was absorbed deep into the depths and was absorbed deep into the depths and is probably slowly released due to the is probably slowly released due to the cycling in the climate that allows it to cycling in the climate that allows it to be released which is observed be released which is observed

http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/124711/marvin-the-martian-1-1.html

ReferencesReferences

• http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast05jan_1/• http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~meech/a740/2004/fall/papers/jakosky_2004.pdf

• http://gnews.wustl.edu/elements/e2_3/e2_3_art_mcsween.pdf

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_on_Mars

• http://www.space.com/5546-proof-water-ice-mars.html

• http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0625/Water-on-Mars-flowed-not-too-long-ago-it-turns-out

• http://www.universetoday.com/59272/possibility-of-past-water-on-mars-takes-a-hit/

• http://www.sciencemag.org/content/306/5702/1709.short

• http://www.sciencemag.org/content/307/5715/1587.short

• http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20021070-76.htmlhttp://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20021070-76.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Ocean_Hypothesishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Ocean_Hypothesis

• http://www.marsroverblog.com/discuss-31150-mars-is-actually-wetter-than-antarctica-is-http://www.marsroverblog.com/discuss-31150-mars-is-actually-wetter-than-antarctica-is-at-some-times.htmlat-some-times.html

• http://www.pggrc.co.nz/http://www.pggrc.co.nz/

• http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989712?refCatId=13http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989712?refCatId=13

• http://www.altocartoons.com/m/marvin-the-martian/index.htmhttp://www.altocartoons.com/m/marvin-the-martian/index.htm

• http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/124711/marvin-the-martian-1-1.htmllhttp://www.layoutsparks.com/1/124711/marvin-the-martian-1-1.htmll