The young Sun and photochemistry of the primitive Martian atmosphere

We will investigate the climatology of an atmosphere where CO2 is a minor constituent but still the key radiative species. The thermal structure of the dust-free atmosphere is estimated by employing a simple radiative-convective model similar to that used by Gierasch and Goody. Radiative heating rates are computed using the Caltech/JPL one-dimensional photochemical model. Thermal cooling rates for a Martian atmosphere containing O2, O3, H2O, N2O, CO, and CO2 are calculated using FASCODE and k-distribution methods. The effects due to pressure broadening of the infrared absorption lines of CO2 by CO and O2, as well as the radiative effects of increased ozone densities in the atmosphere, will be examined.