Mars - The role of the regolith in volatile storage and atmospheric evolution

Earth-based observations of the optical properties of Mars, laboratory alteration experiments, Mariner 9 data, and Viking lander observations are reviewed which indicate the existence of hydrated minerals on the Martian surface. The problem of estimating the total inventory of H2O, CO2, and other volatiles that may be stored in the Martian regolith is discussed, and morphological evidence is cited which supports the possible occurrence of hard-frozen permafrost in some areas on Mars. Physical adsorption of CO2 in the Martian regolith is considered, buffering of atmospheric pressure by regolith-atmosphere reequilibration is examined, and the problem of the exceedingly low inventory of Ar-36 in the Martian atmosphere is investigated. The possibility is considered that earth's degassing history may have had a larger component of long-diffusion-path degassing from a large hot body while the Martian surface inventory may have received a proportionately greater contribution from volatization of accreting particles.