Expected atmospheric environment for the Phoenix landing season and location

Tamppari, L. K.; Barnes, J. R.; Bonfiglio, Eugene; Cantor, B. A.; Friedson, A. J.; Ghosh, A.; Grover, Myron R.; Kass, D. M.; Martin, T. Z.; Mellon, M. T.; Michaels, T. I.; Murphy, J. R.; Rafkin, Scot; Smith, M. D.; Tsuyuki, Glenn T.; Tyler, D.; Wolff, Michael

doi:10.1029/2007je003034

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In this model, a fluid of the composition reported by the WCL measurements that was in equilibrium with calcite [Boynton et al, 2009] at a partial pressure of CO 2 of 5.7 mbar [Tamppari et al, 2009] and contained an estimated sulfate content for charge balance was reacted with equal amounts of hematite and mineral components of basaltic sand [McSween et al, 2006]. This assemblage was chosen to approximate the chemical environment present at the Phoenix lander site.…”

Section: Geochemical Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrated perchlorate at the Mars Phoenix landing site: Evidence for thin film liquid water on Mars

Cull

Arvidson

Catalano

et al. 2010

Geophysical Research Letters

101

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NASA's Phoenix mission, which landed on the northern plains of Mars in 2008, returned evidence of the perchlorate anion distributed evenly throughout the soil column at the landing site. Here, we use spectral data from Phoenix's Surface Stereo Imager to map the distribution of perchlorate salts at the Phoenix landing site, and find that perchlorate salt has been locally concentrated into subsurface patches, similar to salt patches that result from aqueous dissolution and redistribution on Earth. We propose that thin films of liquid water are responsible for translocating perchlorate from the surface to the subsurface, and for concentrating it in patches. The thin films are interpreted to result from melting of minor ice covers related to seasonal and long‐term obliquity cycles.

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Section: Geochemical Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrated perchlorate at the Mars Phoenix landing site: Evidence for thin film liquid water on Mars

Cull

Arvidson

Catalano

et al. 2010

Geophysical Research Letters

101

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“…The atmospheric pressure in the considered region is about 1000 Pa. According to Tamppari et al (2007) it should be within the range 700 -1100 Pa. GCM LMD/Oxford used in our work predicts similar range 730 -940 Pa. According to this model 9…”

Section: Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small-scale trench in the north polar region of Mars: Evolution of surface frost and ground ice concentration

Kossacki¹,

Markiewicz²

2009

Icarus

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In this paper we attempt to answer the question, how formation of a small-scale trench in the Martian regolith affects local distribution of the subsurface ice. We are especially interested in the consequences of digging a trench to search for buried ice, as has been done during the Phoenix Mars Lander mission. However, the results may be also applicable for natural troughs, or cracks. We present results of simulations of diurnal exchange of water between the regolith and the atmosphere. Our model includes the heat and vapor migration in the regolith surrounding the trench, as well as formation of diurnal frost. We take into account scattering of light in the atmosphere and on the trench facets, as well as changes of atmospheric humidity on diurnal and seasonal time scales. Our calculations show, that the measurements of ice content in a sample obtained within one, or two days from the beginning of digging should not be affected. However, on somewhat longer time scale at the south facing site of the trench the regolith can be significantly depleted from ice. This effect should be taken into account if the excavation and taking samples from different depths will be performed in stages separated in time by a month, or more.

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“…They met daily to determine whether an update to the atmosphere model was recommended for use in the Monte Carlo simulations. 7 There were several updates generated based on MRO observations, but the simulation team used only incorporated three during operations. At the beginning of the operations phase, the simulation team was using the model indicated by ATM004.…”

Section: Operational Updatesmentioning

confidence: 99%