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The case for a wet, warm climate on early MarsThe conditions under which Mars could have had a warm wet climate during its early evolution are explored by means of numerical simulations, incorporating more accurate data on the opacity of gaseous CO2 and H2O in the solar and thermal spectral regions (McClatchey et al., 1971) into the one-dimensional radiative-convective greenhouse model of Kasting and Ackerman (1986). The results are presented in extensive graphs and characterized in detail, with consideration of atmospheric CO2 loss rates, sources of atmospheric CO2, CO2 partitioning between atmosphere and hydrosphere, the Mars volatile inventory, the CO2 geochemical cycle, climate evolution, and observational tests. It is concluded that greenhouse conditions (requiring atmospheric CO2 of 1-5 bar) could have existed for a period of about 1 Gyr if the total surficial inventory of CO2 was 2-10 bar.
Document ID
19880024200
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Pollack, J. B.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Kasting, J. F.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Richardson, S. M.
(Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, United States)
Poliakoff, K.
(I.M.I., Inc. San Jose, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 71
ISSN: 0019-1035
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
88A11427
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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